Dembele scores on return from injury as PSG run riot at Leverkusen
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Ousmane Dembele has been named The Best FIFA Men’s player for 2025 at an awards ceremony in Qatar.The French winger was in fine form for Paris Saint-Germain and France and helped his club side lift the UEFA Champions League, which saw him also crowned 2025 Ballon d’Or winner in September.PSG were victorious in every competition they entered last season, bar the FIFA Club World Cup, in which they were beaten 3-0 in the final by Chelsea.
That saw PSG win a domestic treble of Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions, as well as playing a starring role in their Champions League triumph.
PSG defeated Internazionale 5-0 in the final, and though Dembele himself did not score in that game, he assisted Desire Doue’s first goal and also the goal of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.He also scored PSG’s only goal in the 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the semi-final first leg.
Dembele scored 35 goals and assisted 16 times in 53 matches in all competitions, a record which has seen the accolades continue to fly in.
The 28-year-old beat PSG teammates Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha to the award, as well as France teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Other players nominated included England’s Harry Kane and Cole Palmer, Spain duo Pedri and Lamine Yamal, Raphinha of Barcelona and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
He follows an illustrious list of winners since the awards began in 2016 of Cristiano Ronaldo (twice), Lionel Messi (three times), Robert Lewandowski (twice), Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior.
Enrique scoops Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique was named as the winner of the Men’s Coach of the Year award after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to their first UEFA Champions League title.
He won the award ahead of Mexico’s Javier Aguirre, Barcelona’s Hansi Flick, Club World Cup winner Enzo Maresca, Premier League winner Arne Slot, Roberto Martinez of Portugal and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.
The award was announced by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after more than one million votes were cast.
Enrique was not present to collect the award as he is preparing for PSG’s Intercontinental Cup Final with Flamengo.
Donnarumma crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper
Earlier, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper for 2025 award was won by Gianluigi Donnarumma.The Manchester City keeper arrived at the Etihad Stadium in the summer for £26 million on a five-year deal from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Italy international was honoured on Tuesday ahead of the end-of-year gala at the Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha, Qatar.
Donnarumma enjoyed a stand-out campaign for PSG during the 2024/25 season, which saw him lift the UEFA Champions League for the first time, alongside three domestic trophies during his final campaign in the French capital.
Donnarumma, who won the UEFA European Championship with Italy against England back in 2021, replaced Ederson at City after the Brazilian joined Turkish club Fenerbahce after eight years of service.
The 26-year-old has quickly cemented his status as Pep Guardiola’s first choice, having usurped James Trafford on arrival.
Donnarumma signing signals how Guardiola has changed philosophy – Hargreaves, Hart
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City sit second in the Premier League and fourth in the Champions League standings, with Donnarumma having kept eight clean sheets in his 18 appearances so far in all competitions.
His triumph came at the expense of elite competition, with Premier League rivals Alisson Becker, Emiliano Martinez and David Raya among those he finished ahead of to secure the award.
Speaking after receiving the accolade, Donnarumma expressed pride at the recognition, describing it as a moment he would long cherish.
“I feel extremely proud to have been named as the best in the world and ahead of such wonderful goalkeepers too, who I have great respect and admiration for,” he said.
Watch PSG hero Donnarumma’s best saves from both semi-final legs against Arsenal
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“It was an incredible year, one that will live long in my memory, and it’s touching to be recognised for my role in the success achieved over that period.
“I will truly appreciate this acknowledgement and look ahead now to achieving more success with my new club, Manchester City.”
Hannah Hampton was awarded the same accolade in the women’s category after a stellar year for England and Chelsea, winning the Women’s Super League, FA Cup and League Cup with her club before starring for The Lionesses.
Sarina Wiegman’s side prevailed in the Euro 2025 final on penalties against Spain, with Hampton saving two crucial spot-kicks.
Independiente’s Santiago Montiel claimed the Puskas Award for the best goal in men’s football, earning the honour for a spectacular overhead kick from outside the penalty area against Independiente Rivadavia in the Argentine Primera Division in May.
How were the award winners determined?
The voting process for the FIFA Men’s and Women’s Best awards was divided equally among four groups: men’s national team captains and coaches, women’s national team captains and coaches, media representatives from each member association, and registered fans.
Each group carried the same weight, contributing 25% to the final decision on the winners.
FIFA Men’s Player of the Year shortlist
- Ousmane Dembele (France and Paris Saint-Germain)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)
- Harry Kane (England and FC Bayern Munich)
- Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal and Paris Saint-Germain)
- Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
- Pedri (Spain and Barcelona)
- Raphinha (Brazil and Barcelona)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
- Vitinha (Portugal and Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year shortlist
- Javier Aguirre (Mexico)
- Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
- Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Hansi Flick (Barcelona)
- Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)
- Roberto Martinez (Portugal)
- Arne Slot (Liverpool)
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