The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025: A Complete Breakdown of Finalists, Nominees, and Winners

Football’s most prestigious individual honors were handed out at the Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha, Qatar, on December 16, 2025, celebrating a year of extraordinary performances across the men’s and women’s game.

The 2025 edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards brought together the sport’s brightest stars for a glittering ceremony that recognized excellence on the pitch, in the dugout, and between the posts. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which is decided exclusively by journalists, FIFA’s awards are determined by a democratic four-way split: national team captains, national team coaches, media representatives, and registered fans—each carrying equal 25% weight in the final tally.

With over 16 million fan votes cast and the football world watching closely, the evening delivered surprises, historic milestones, and the coronation of two players who have now cemented their status as the defining talents of their generation.

Best FIFA Men’s Player: Dembélé Completes the Double

The night’s most anticipated award saw Ousmane Dembélé crowned as the world’s best male player, capping a remarkable 2024–25 season that saw the French forward claim both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s top prize.

Dembélé’s triumph was built on a staggering campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored 35 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions and played a pivotal role in delivering the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title. His blend of explosive pace, clinical finishing, and big-game mentality proved irresistible to voters.

The 11 finalists for the men’s award represented a fascinating cross-section of global talent:

The voting revealed a tight battle at the top, with Dembélé accumulating 50 points to Lamine Yamal’s 39 and Kylian Mbappé’s 35. The result underscored PSG’s dominance in the men’s shortlist, with four players from the Parisian club making the final eleven.

Best FIFA Women’s Player: Bonmatí’s Historic Three-Peat

In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí made history by winning the award for an unprecedented third consecutive year, further burnishing her legacy as one of the greatest midfielders the women’s game has ever produced.

The Barcelona Femení maestro tallied 15 goals in 44 matches during the 2024–25 campaign, orchestrating play with her trademark vision, composure, and tactical intelligence. In a poignant moment, Bonmatí collected her trophy on crutches after suffering a broken leg during training with the Spain national team earlier in December.

The women’s shortlist was a star-studded affair spanning Europe’s elite clubs:

Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey and Barcelona legend Alexia Putellas completed the podium, ensuring a Spanish 1-2-3 that reflected the nation’s continued dominance in women’s football.

Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Luis Enrique’s Redemption

Luis Enrique was rewarded for engineering one of the most impressive tactical transformations in modern football history, guiding Paris Saint-Germain to their maiden Champions League crown while maintaining domestic supremacy in France. The Spanish coach shed the “bling-bling” era label that had haunted PSG, molding a younger, high-octane side that played with cohesion and intensity.

The finalists were:

• Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain) — Winner
• Hansi Flick (Barcelona)
• Arne Slot (Liverpool)
• Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
• Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)
• Roberto Martínez (Portugal)
• Javier Aguirre (Mexico)

Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Wiegman’s Fifth Crown

At what point does FIFA simply rename the award? Sarina Wiegman claimed her fifth Best FIFA Women’s Coach title since 2017, a staggering achievement that reflects her sustained excellence at the highest level. The Dutch tactician led England to glory at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, adding another major trophy to her already glittering résumé.

The finalists were:

• Sarina Wiegman (England) — Winner
• Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)
• Renée Slegers (Arsenal)
• Jonatan Giráldez (Olympique Lyonnais)
• Seb Hines (Orlando Pride)

Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Donnarumma’s Etihad Twist

In one of the more intriguing narratives of the evening, Gianluigi Donnarumma won the men’s goalkeeper prize despite having already transferred from PSG to Manchester City by the time of the ceremony. The Italy captain’s heroics during PSG’s Champions League run—where he produced match-winning saves at critical moments—proved decisive in the voting. His £26 million ($34.9 million) move to the Etihad has already looked like a bargain.

The finalists included:

• Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City, Italy) — Winner
• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)
• Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)
• Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
• Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
• David Raya (Arsenal, Spain)
• Yann Sommer (Inter Milan, Switzerland)
• Wojciech Szczęsny (Barcelona, Poland)

Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper: Hampton’s England Triumph

Hannah Hampton enjoyed a breakthrough year, winning the Women’s Super League with Chelsea before delivering a series of heroic performances as England claimed an unlikely UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 title. The 25-year-old’s reflexes, command of the area, and penalty-saving prowess made her the standout shot-stopper of the year.

The finalists were:

• Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England) — Winner
• Cata Coll (Barcelona, Spain)
• Christiane Endler (Olympique Lyonnais, Chile)
• Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC, Germany)
• Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC/Brighton & Hove Albion, Nigeria)
• Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride, England)
• Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, USA)

FIFA Puskás Award: Montiel’s Moment of Magic

The prize for the best goal in men’s football went to Santiago Montiel of Argentine club Independiente, whose audacious overhead kick against Independiente Rivadavia in May captivated the football world. Montiel’s reaction was refreshingly humble: “I didn’t think about it, I just hit it.” He edged out stiff competition from Declan Rice’s thunderous free kick for Arsenal against Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal’s curling masterpiece for Barcelona.

The full list of Puskás nominees showcased global football’s diversity:

• Alessandro Deiola (Cagliari vs. Venezia)
• Pedro de la Vega (Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders)
• Santiago Montiel (Independiente vs. Independiente Rivadavia) — Winner
• Amr Nasser (Al Ahly vs. Pharco)
• Carlos Orrantía (Querétaro vs. Atlas)
• Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal vs. Real Madrid)
• Rizky Ridho (Persija Jakarta vs. Arema)
• Kévin Rodrigues (Kasımpaşa vs. Rizespor)
• Lamine Yamal (Espanyol vs. Barcelona)

FIFA Marta Award: Ovalle’s Scorpion Sensation

Named in honor of Brazilian legend Marta, the women’s goal of the year award was claimed by Lizbeth Ovalle of Tigres. The Mexican forward produced a breathtaking scorpion-kick-style heel flick against Guadalajara in March, contorting her body to send the ball looping into the far corner while her back was to goal. It was a goal that combined athleticism, improvisation, and sheer audacity.

The Best FIFA World XI: Teams of the Year

FIFA also unveiled its independently selected World XIs for 2025, reflecting the year’s most consistently outstanding performers.

Men’s World XI:

• GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City)
• DEF: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
• MID: Pedri (Barcelona), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
• FWD: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Women’s World XI:

• GK: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)
• DEF: Ona Batlle (Barcelona), Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)
• MID: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
• FWD: Clàudia Pina (Barcelona), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Best FIFA Football Awards told a story of shifting power dynamics. Paris Saint-Germain’s long-awaited Champions League triumph finally translated into individual recognition, with Dembélé and Luis Enrique claiming the top men’s prizes. Meanwhile, Barcelona Femení and Arsenal dominated the women’s individual and team honors, even as Aitana Bonmatí continued her personal reign of supremacy.

As the football calendar turns toward 2026—with the men’s World Cup on the horizon in North America—these awards serve as both a celebration of the past and a benchmark for the future. For Dembélé and Bonmatí, the challenge now is not just to maintain their standards, but to redefine them entirely.