It is a massive night for French football! Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© has officially been crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025 at the awards ceremony held today, December 16, in Doha, Qatar.
This victory completes a historic individual "double" for the Paris Saint-Germain star, who also took home the Ballon d’Or in September.
Dembélé beat out fellow finalists Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) to secure the top honor.
Why Dembélé Won: A Season of Dominance
DembĂ©lĂ©’s 2024/25 campaign was nothing short of legendary. Under Luis Enrique, he transformed from a mercurial winger into the most clinical and creative force in Europe:
The Treble: He spearheaded PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, alongside the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France trophies.
Stats: He finished the season with a staggering 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions.
Big Game Performer: He was named the MVP of both Ligue 1 and the Champions League, notably scoring in the 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the UCL final.
The 2025 FIFA Men’s World XI
The selection for the World XI sparked some debate, particularly with the exclusion of Mo Salah and Raphinha despite their stellar domestic seasons.
World XI (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Van Dijk, Nuno Mendes; Palmer, Bellingham, Vitinha, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dembélé.
DembĂ©lĂ©’s win marks the first time a French player has won the award since Zinedine Zidane, and it firmly cements his status as the best player in the world right now.
Would you like me to break down the voting percentages or see how the fans' votes differed from the national team captains?