The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025: Dembélé, Bonmatí Reign Supreme; List Of Winners
World football’s finest gathered at the Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha on Tuesday night as FIFA staged its annual year-end celebration, honouring the standout players, coaches, goals and moments of the 2024–25 season. The evening’s top prizes went to Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí, who were crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player and The Best FIFA Women’s Player, respectively.
The Best FIFA Football Awards are decided through a unique voting system, split evenly between four groups- national team captains, national team coaches, media representatives and fans- each contributing 25 per cent of the final result.
Dembélé Caps Dream Season
Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembélé capped a remarkable year by adding FIFA’s top individual honour to his recent Ballon d’Or triumph. The 28-year-old was the driving force behind PSG’s historic treble-winning campaign, which culminated in the club’s long-awaited UEFA Champions League success.
Dembélé’s explosive scoring run in the second half of the 2024–25 season proved decisive, as PSG finally shook off years of European disappointment. His performances edged out Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal in the race for the award, underlining Dembélé’s status as the game’s most decisive attacker over the past year.
Bonmatí Makes It Three in a Row
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí continued her era-defining dominance. The Barcelona and Spain midfielder claimed The Best FIFA Women’s Player award for the third consecutive year, having already won in 2023 and 2024.
Bonmatí’s influence on Barcelona Femení once again proved unmatched, as she dictated games with her intelligence, technique and leadership. The 27-year-old collected the trophy while on crutches, following a recent leg fracture sustained during training with the Spanish national team- a poignant moment that highlighted both her resilience and her extraordinary year.
Enrique Rewarded for PSG Revolution
PSG’s success was further recognised with Luis Enrique named Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2025. The Spaniard was rewarded for transforming the Parisian club, moving away from its “bling-bling” image and building a youthful, high-intensity side that finally conquered Europe. His work delivered PSG their maiden Champions League title in May.
Star-Studded Best Men’s XI
The Best Men’s XI reflected the season’s dominant forces:
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, William Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes
- Midfielders: Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Vitinha, Pedri
- Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé
Spectacular Goals Take Centre Stage
The night also celebrated unforgettable moments of brilliance. Santiago Montiel won the FIFA Puskás Award for his stunning overhead kick for Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia in Argentina’s top flight, making him the second consecutive Argentine winner after Alejandro Garnacho in 2024.
In women’s football, Lizbeth Ovalle claimed the FIFA Marta Award for an outrageous scorpion-kick finish for Tigres against Guadalajara in Liga MX Femenil- a goal that embodied flair and imagination.
Goalkeeping Excellence Recognised
PSG’s dominance extended between the posts, with Gianluigi Donnarumma named The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper for the first time. His case was built on a trophy-laden campaign, highlighted by a clean sheet in PSG’s emphatic 5–0 Champions League final win over Internazionale.
Meanwhile, Hannah Hampton enjoyed a breakthrough moment as she was crowned The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper 2025. The Chelsea and England No.1 played a pivotal role in England’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 triumph and helped her club secure a domestic treble, becoming only the second English player to win the award after Mary Earps.
Also Read: Top 5 Goalkeepers With Most Goals In History
Fair Play and Fans in the Spotlight
Beyond silverware and goals, FIFA also honoured football’s human side. The FIFA Fair Play Award was presented to Dr Andreas Harlass-Neuking, the team doctor of SSV Jahn Regensburg, for saving a supporter’s life after rushing into the stands to perform resuscitation during a 2. Bundesliga match in April.
The FIFA Fan Award went to Zakho SC supporters, recognised for a heart-warming gesture in Iraq, where fans threw thousands of stuffed toys onto the pitch before a league match- later donated to children living with serious illnesses.
A Night to Remember
From record-breaking individual achievements to moments of compassion and community, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 offered a powerful reflection of football’s global impact- celebrating not just excellence on the pitch, but the values that make the game truly universal.
