Ousmane Dembélé pauses with trophy he won on Tuesday, December 16th 2025
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I French forward Ousmane Dembélé has capped a remarkable campaign by being named the world’s best footballer for the 2024–2025 season, completing a clean sweep of the sport’s top individual honours after winning both the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award.
The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star was crowned FIFA Men’s Player of the Year at a ceremony held in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, cementing his status as the outstanding performer in global football over the past season.
The award, regarded as one of the most prestigious individual accolades in the game since its introduction in 1991, recognises performances between August last year and August this year and is considered alongside the Ballon d’Or as the pinnacle of individual achievement.
Dembélé’s triumph was driven by his decisive role in PSG’s historic season, during which the French champions secured an unprecedented European treble. The Paris club lifted the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history, while also retaining the Ligue 1 title and winning the French Cup. Dembélé was central to that success, contributing 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 official matches across all competitions.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dembélé described the campaign as a landmark moment for the club. “2025 was the best year in PSG’s history,” he said. “I will make this season just as memorable,” underlining his determination to maintain the high standards he has set.
The FIFA Men’s Player of the Year was decided through a global voting process involving representatives from all 221 FIFA member associations. National team coaches, captains, and selected journalists each submitted ranked ballots, awarding five points to their top choice, three to their second, and one to their third. FIFA’s published voting details showed widespread support for Dembélé across continents.
Notably, South Korea’s national team coach Hong Myung-bo and captain Son Heung-min both placed Dembélé first on their ballots. Hong ranked Dembélé ahead of Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and PSG midfielder Vitinha, while Son selected Dembélé, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, and Yamal in that order.
PSG’s dominance at the awards was further highlighted when head coach Luis Enrique was named FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year, a reflection of his role in guiding the club through its most successful season.
In the women’s category, Spain and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí was named Women’s Player of the Year. Bonmatí, already a dominant figure in the women’s game, also secured the Ballon d’Or for a third consecutive year, reinforcing her position at the summit of world football.
With his latest accolades, Dembélé has firmly established himself among the elite, closing a season that will be remembered as one of the most successful in both his career and PSG’s history.
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