The Best FIFA Awards: Dembele, Bonmati collect top prizes

The winners of The Best FIFA Awards 2025 were revealed before and during the FIFA Celebration Dinner in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.

For the awards recognizing the best player, goalkeeper, and coach, votes from national team coaches, national team captains, journalists, and fans were weighted equally. The finest goals and best XIs were determined by votes from supporters and a group of appointed FIFA legends.

The awards recognize excellence in soccer between Aug. 11, 2024 and Aug. 2, 2025.

Best Men’s Player

Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain and France)

Dembele shifted to a central attacking position midway through last season, and the move was inspired. The Frenchman scored 33 goals and provided 13 assists across all competitions as Paris Saint-Germain hoarded trophies in the 2024-25 season.

He boasted 14 goal contributions (eight goals and six assists) en route to Champions League glory, finished joint-top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 strikes during PSG’s victorious campaign, and weighed in with key goals during the team’s Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions successes.

Dembele also won the Ballon d’Or in September.

Beaten nominees: Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Nuno Mendes, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah, Vitinha, Lamine Yamal

Best Women’s Player

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona and Spain)

Spanish icon Bonmati missed out on Euro 2025 glory following a heartbreaking defeat to England in the final, but she still swept up the Primera Division title, the Copa de la Reina, and the Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona.

Her intricate footwork, vision, and immense tactical intelligence continue to bewitch viewers and were enough to earn her the award despite strong competition from the likes of Mariona Caldentey, club and international teammate Alexia Putellas, and members of England’s Euro 2025-winning squad.

Bonmati has won the top women’s honor at both The Best FIFA Awards and Ballon d’Or ceremony for three straight years.

Beaten nominees: Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn, Lucy Bronze, Mariona Caldentey, Temwa Chawinga, Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, Patri Guijarro, Lindsey Heaps, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson

Best Men’s Coach

Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Who else? Luis Enrique was a strong favorite to collect this piece of silverware after he shook up Paris Saint-Germain’s identity – ditching the club’s superstar-centered approach for a stronger team focus – and won the Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions. PSG also finished second at last summer’s Club World Cup.

Beaten nominees: Hansi Flick, Enzo Maresca, Roberto Martinez, Arne Slot

Best Women’s Coach

Sarina Wiegman (England)

Wiegman is a force in international management. She’s won the Women’s European Championship on three occasions (once with the Netherlands and twice with England) and has twice finished as runner-up at the Women’s World Cup. The Dutch coach’s England team upset the odds to beat Spain in the Euro 2025 final.

Wiegman also won FIFA’s best women’s coach award in 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Beaten nominees: Sonia Bompastor, Jonatan Giraldez, Seb Hines, Renee Slegers

Best Men’s Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City and Italy)

Donnarumma won the top goalkeeper prize for the first time on the back of his gold rush with Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian shot-stopper was surprisingly deemed surplus to requirements by PSG head coach Luis Enrique after the French side won the Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions during the 2024-25 campaign.

Now with Manchester City, Donnarumma will be hoping to play at his first World Cup next summer. Italy needs to overcome Northern Ireland and then Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs to reach the tournament for the first time since 2014.

Beaten nominees: Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martinez, Manuel Neuer, David Raya, Yann Sommer, Wojciech Szczesny

Best Women’s Goalkeeper

Hannah Hampton (Chelsea and England)

Hampton’s reputation soared at Euro 2025 courtesy of her superb distribution and, most notably, her magnificent stops in open play and during penalty shootouts.

The 25-year-old also secured hero status with her ability to overcome obstacles and her mischievousness. She was told to avoid playing sports as a youngster after surgeries to correct eye misalignment weren’t fully successful, but now she’s deemed the best goalkeeper on the planet. She also threw the water bottle of her Spanish counterpart into the crowd – therefore ditching the penalty-taker notes on the side of it – during the shootout in the Euro 2025 final.

Beaten nominees: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Christiane Endler, Anna Moorhouse, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Phallon Tullis-Joyce

Best Men’s XI

Best Women’s XI

Puskas Award

Santiago Montiel (Independiente)

Montiel’s marvelous overhead kick was declared the greatest goal in the men’s game. The Argentine winger, who’s a cousin of World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel, said he “just hit it” when asked about his excellent strike.

Marta Award

Lizbeth Ovalle (Tigres UANL)

Ovalle’s outrageous scorpion kick for Tigres in March took the prize for best goal in women’s soccer. The Mexican winger became the most expensive female player ever when she joined the Orlando Pride for around $1.5 million in August.