By Martin Graham
France international Ousmane Dembele was named the men’s FIFA Best recipient during an awards night staged in Qatar on Tuesday, celebrating a standout year with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 28-year-old attacker had already secured the Ballon d’Or earlier in the autumn, following a campaign that delivered PSG’s first-ever Champions League triumph alongside domestic success.
Speaking after receiving the trophy, Dembele paid tribute to those around him, saying that commitment and collective effort had shaped a remarkable season on both a personal and team level.
Formerly with Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, Dembele contributed 35 goals across all tournaments as the Paris side lifted both the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup, adding continental glory to complete the treble.
His international pedigree also includes a World Cup victory with France in 2018, underlining a career that has now reached its most decorated phase.
Coaching recognition and individual milestones
PSG head coach Luis Enrique was honored as the best men’s team coach, finishing ahead of Barcelona’s Hansi Flick and Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who guided his club to the Premier League crown.
On the women’s side, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati collected the top individual award for a third successive year, matching her run of Ballon d’Or successes.
The 27-year-old expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting the support of colleagues, technical staff, and supporters who took part in the voting process.
Her award capped a demanding year that included domestic league success in Spain but ended in defeat in both the Champions League final and the European Championship final.
Despite those setbacks, Bonmati stood out at the Euros, earning player of the tournament honors after returning from viral meningitis that had ruled her out of Spain’s opening two fixtures.
Goalkeepers, spectacular goals and voting process
England head coach Sarina Wiegman received the women’s coaching accolade after steering her side to a third consecutive European Championship title during the summer.
In the goalkeeping categories, Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the men’s prize following his Champions League-winning season with PSG before his move to Manchester City, while Chelsea and England stopper Hannah Hampton secured the women’s award after Euro 2025 success.
The ceremony also celebrated striking moments, with Santiago Montiel winning the Puskas award for an acrobatic long-range finish for Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia in Argentina’s top division.
Lizbeth Ovalle earned the Marta award thanks to a scorpion kick scored for Tigres in a Mexican league encounter with Guadalajara.
All honors were decided through a combined ballot involving supporters, journalists, national team captains, and coaches, assessing performances from August 11, 2024 to August 2, 2025.