Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembélé has been named FIFA’s men’s player of the year, capping a landmark individual campaign at the FIFA Best awards in Qatar on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old, who collected the Ballon d’Or in September, added another major accolade after playing a central role in PSG’s trophy-laden 2024–25 season, during which the French champions secured four titles.
A former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund winger, Dembélé joined PSG in 2023 and registered 51 goal contributions in 53 appearances under head coach Luis Enrique last season.
His decisive impact in PSG’s historic first Champions League triumph proved pivotal, as he edged out Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé to claim the sport’s most prestigious individual honour.
Dembélé attended the awards ceremony ahead of PSG’s Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo on Wednesday.
The FIFA Best men’s player award, covering performances between August 2024 and August 2025, is voted on by men’s national team coaches, captains, journalists and fans.
While his early-season form in 2024–25 was inconsistent, Dembélé’s campaign was transformed after he was redeployed as a central forward, a tactical shift that unlocked his most productive spell at club level.
He scored 35 goals across all competitions last season, with eight coming in the Champions League, including crucial strikes against Liverpool and Arsenal in the knockout rounds.
This latest honour places Dembélé alongside an elite group of past winners, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, since the award’s introduction in 2016.
He has already contributed three goals and three assists for PSG in all competitions this season.
At international level, Dembélé also played a key role in helping France secure qualification for next summer’s World Cup, where the two-time champions have been drawn alongside Senegal, Norway and one of the play-off winners in the group stage.
Six players from PSG’s dominant 2024–25 campaign were named in FIFA’s men’s team of the year. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer were the only representatives from the Premier League.
The full XI comprises Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Manchester City), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Willian Pacho (PSG), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Vitinha (PSG), Pedri (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Ousmane Dembélé (PSG).
Independiente winger Santiago Montiel won the Puskás Award for his spectacular overhead kick against Independiente Rivadavia in Argentina’s Primera División.
The 25-year-old’s acrobatic strike sealed a 1–0 victory in May, leaving goalkeeper Ezequiel Centurión with no chance.
Montiel becomes the second consecutive Argentine to win the award, following Alejandro Garnacho in 2024. Reflecting on the moment, he said: “I didn’t think about it, I just hit it.”
Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice was also shortlisted, following his second free-kick goal against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Earlier in the evening, Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was named FIFA men’s goalkeeper of the year for 2025.
The 26-year-old Italian was instrumental in PSG’s Champions League success last season before completing a move to the Etihad Stadium in September.
Donnarumma kept a clean sheet in the final victory over Inter Milan in May and finished ahead of Alisson Becker, Emi Martínez, David Raya and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois to claim the award for the first time.
Alongside the Champions League, he also helped PSG secure Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions during the 2024–25 campaign.
PSG head coach Luis Enrique was named FIFA men’s coach of the year after guiding the club to four trophies in the 2024–25 season.
The 55-year-old oversaw landmark Champions League wins over Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter Milan en route to PSG’s maiden triumph in the competition.
The former Barcelona manager edged out Liverpool’s Arne Slot and Barcelona boss Hansi Flick for the award.
Luis Enrique was unable to attend the ceremony, with PSG assistant coach Rafel Pol Cabanellas accepting the honour on his behalf.
