The 2025 FIFA Best Awards Ceremony Takes Place in Doha Highlighting Emerging Football Talent
On 17 December 2025, the FIFA Best Awards ceremony was held in Doha, Qatar, marking a significant event in the international football calendar. The ceremony saw 28-year-old French forward Ousmane Dembélé, currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain, receive the prestigious FIFA Best Men’s Player award. This recognition marked the first time a player born in the 1990s has been honoured with this title. The award evaluation spanned from 11 August 2024 to 2 August 2025 and considered both athletic performance and overall conduct on and off the pitch. Voting was carried out through an equal-weight system involving media representatives, football fans worldwide, national team head coaches, and team captains.
The Award Ceremony Progressed Amidst a Global Audience and Highlighted Key Player Achievements
The awards programme proceeded with announcements detailing final rankings and achievements during the 2024–25 season. Ousmane Dembélé topped the voting with a total of 50 points, ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who garnered 39 points, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, with 35 points. Dembélé’s performance included 53 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, contributing 35 goals and 16 assists. Notably, he played a crucial role in securing PSG’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title and also helped the team clinch Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions. Furthermore, he led PSG to the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Official Announcements Confirmed Award Details and Recognised Coaching Excellence
According to official sources from the event organisers and relevant football authorities, Dembélé’s 2025 awards portfolio included both the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best Men’s Player accolade. In addition, he achieved the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, was named Ligue 1 Most Valuable Player (MVP), and received the UEFA Champions League MVP award. On the women’s side, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí secured the Best Women’s Player award for the third consecutive year, also holding the current Ballon d’Or title. Manchester United’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton were named Best Men’s and Women’s Goalkeepers respectively. The Best Men’s Coach award went to Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique, while England’s Sarina Wiegman was honoured as Best Women’s Coach. The organisers emphasised that the selection criteria balanced performance metrics with sportsmanship, aligning with FIFA’s commitment to integrity in the game.
The Awards Have Sparked Discussion Among Football Enthusiasts and Industry Observers
The announcement of Dembélé as the World Footballer of the Year triggered widespread discourse across social media platforms and football forums, with discussions focusing on the evolution of player profiles and generational shifts within the sport. Analysts underscored the significance of a post-1990s generation player receiving such recognition, highlighting changes in professional development and international competitive standards. Observers noted the balanced voting system involving multiple stakeholder groups as ensuring a comprehensive assessment. Industry experts commented on the increasingly globalised nature of football, with Malaysia and other Southeast Asian markets showing growing interest in international football events and honours such as the FIFA Best Awards.
The Event’s Impact Is Expected to Influence Football Following Patterns in Attendance and Standards
In the short term, the awards ceremony drew significant attention from football fans and media across regions including Malaysia, particularly in urban centres such as Seri Kembangan, Selangor, and areas near Batu Caves, where football viewership is substantial. This has coincided with increased traffic and public gatherings around sports venues and cafes during live broadcasts. From a longer-term perspective, the event is anticipated to reinforce development in coaching standards, player performance monitoring, and safety protocols during matches across both men’s and women’s football leagues. The recognition of player conduct as part of the selection criteria aligns with broader safety and sportsmanship standards being adopted by national football associations and regulatory bodies. Additionally, the event emphasised the role of emerging talents in shaping the future of the sport globally.
Location: Doha, Qatar
Date: 2025-12-17
