Outshining the biggest stars in world football, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and French forward Ousmane Dembélé has been named ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’ for 2025.
The prestigious trophy was presented to him on Tuesday night (December 16) during FIFA’s glitzy awards ceremony held in Doha, Qatar.
This accolade follows his Ballon d’Or triumph earlier this September, marking a historic "double" for the winger. His rise to the top comes on the back of a sensational 2024–25 season where he played a pivotal role in securing four trophies for PSG.
A Dominant Statistical Season
The eligibility period for this year's award spanned from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025. During this window, the 28-year-old was nothing short of unstoppable.
Dembélé was the primary architect of PSG’s maiden UEFA Champions League title, scoring 8 goals during their European campaign. Across all competitions last season, he racked up a staggering 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances.
Domestic and International Impact
Beyond Europe, Dembélé's dominance extended to French soil:
- Domestic Treble: Led PSG to titles in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
- Super Cup Hero: Scored the lone winning goal in the Trophée des Champions.
- Club World Cup: Despite missing the group stages of the newly formatted 32-team FIFA Club World Cup due to injury, he returned for the knockout rounds to guide PSG to the final. Although they ultimately fell to Chelsea, his crucial goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals were instrumental.
Fresh Format for FIFA Awards
FIFA introduced a change to the ceremony's traditional flow this year. In a departure from previous years, accolades such as the Puskás Award, FIFA Fair Play, and Best Goalkeeper were announced before the main event began. This adjustment ensured that the spotlight remained solely on the crowning of the world's best player on the main stage.
