Ousmane Dembélé has been named the 2025 FIFA The Best Men’s Player following an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain, where he played a decisive role at both club and international levels.
The France and PSG forward received the men’s award at a ceremony held in Qatar on Tuesday. Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was honoured with the women’s prize. FIFA confirmed the announcement on December 16, highlighting Dembélé’s exceptional influence during the assessment period.
Dembélé was central to PSG’s historic campaign, helping the club secure their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. He scored eight goals and provided six assists during the competition, playing a key role in PSG’s memorable European triumph.
Domestically, the 28-year-old also enjoyed major success, contributing to PSG’s treble as they won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions. His performances earned him the Most Valuable Player awards in both the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1, while he also finished the season as joint top scorer in Ligue 1.
On the international stage, Dembélé helped France finish third in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League and was part of the squad that reached the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
Across the season, he collected several individual accolades, including UEFA Champions League Player of the Season, inclusion in the Champions League Team of the Season, Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and selection in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He also finished runner-up at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The shortlist for the FIFA The Best Men’s Player Award was drawn up by experts based on performances between 11 August 2024 and 2 August 2025. Voting was conducted by national team coaches, team captains, football journalists, and fans, with each group contributing 25 percent of the total vote.
Voters ranked their top three choices, with points awarded accordingly, and the process was monitored by independent observers to ensure transparency. Dembélé emerged with the highest overall score, securing the award as the standout player of the year.
He had earlier won the Ballon d’Or in September, capping a season widely regarded as the most successful of his career and one that firmly established him among the world’s elite footballers.
