Ousmane Dembélé continues his exceptional season. Just weeks after winning the Ballon d’Or, the Paris Saint-Germain winger has now been voted The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025, following a ceremony held Tuesday night in Doha, on the eve of the Intercontinental Cup final between PSG and Flamengo.
The French international becomes the first French player to win the award created by FIFA in 2016, joining an elite list that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Robert Lewandowski and Vinícius Júnior.
A historic season with PSG
Dembélé was rewarded for an outstanding 2024–2025 season, in which he played a central role in PSG’s maiden UEFA Champions League triumph. He scored eight goals and delivered six assists during the European campaign, while also shining domestically.
The 28-year-old was named:
- Champions League Player of the Season
- Ligue 1 Player of the Year
- MVP of both Ligue 1 and the Champions League
PSG completed a historic domestic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions) and reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, with Dembélé as one of the team’s undisputed leaders.
Dembélé reacts: “The work pays off”
Speaking on stage during the ceremony, the PSG attacker expressed his gratitude:
“I want to thank all my teammates. The work pays off. I also thank my family and PSG, with whom we had a fantastic year. Thank you to Gianni Infantino — I received your message on my birthday. I hope to come back again next year.”
Dembélé had been shortlisted alongside players such as Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane. The winner was determined through a combined vote involving national team coaches, captains, journalists and fans, each group accounting for 25% of the final tally.
PSG dominate The Best awards
Paris Saint-Germain were heavily represented during the ceremony. Luis Enrique was named FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding PSG through a historic season. Although present in Doha, the Spanish coach did not attend the gala in person, sending his assistant Rafael Pol to collect the trophy.
PSG also placed six players in the FIFA Men’s World XI:
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Achraf Hakimi
- Willian Pacho
- Nuno Mendes
- Vitinha
- Ousmane Dembélé
Donnarumma was additionally named Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper.
Major honors at The Best 2025 (PSG focus)
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Ousmane Dembélé
- The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Luis Enrique
- Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Men’s World XI: Donnarumma – Hakimi, Pacho, Van Dijk, Nuno Mendes – Palmer, Bellingham, Vitinha, Pedri – Lamine Yamal, Dembélé