French-Malian forward Ousmane Dembélé crowned 2025 FIFA Best Men’s Player

France forward of Malian descent, Ousmane Dembélé, was the standout winner at Tuesday’s FIFA Football Awards, claiming the 2025 FIFA Best Men’s Player honour after an exceptional year at club level.

Dembélé, who is of Malian descent, edged past Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and fellow French star Kylian Mbappé to take home the top individual prize.

His success capped a remarkable season in which he played a key role in PSG’s triumphs in the Coupe de France, Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League. The awards night was also memorable for the Parisian club, as Dembélé’s coach Luis Enrique was named Best FIFA Men’s Coach.

The ceremony also revealed FIFA’s Best Men’s XI, which recognised the top performers between August 11, 2024 and August 2, 2025. PSG dominated the selection, with Gianluigi Donnarumma chosen in goal alongside teammates Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes in defence.

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk completed the back line. The midfield featured Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, PSG’s Vitinha, Barcelona’s Pedri and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, while the forward line was led by Dembélé and Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Elsewhere, the Puskás Award was won by Independiente winger Santiago Montiel, whose spectacular overhead kick against Independiente Rivadavia in an Argentinian Liga Profesional de Fútbol match earlier in November earned him the accolade.