FIFA Best Men’s Player: Ousmane Dembele Beats Lamine Yamal to Top Prize
- Ousmane Dembele has been named FIFA Best Men’s Player, edging out teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to claim another major honour this year
- The Frenchman’s victory caps a remarkable season in which he played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic quadruple, crowned by their long-awaited UEFA Champions League triumph
- Unlike the Ballon d’Or, the Best Men’s Player award is determined through votes from national team coaches, national team captains, football journalists, and fans worldwide
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has reached the summit of world football after being crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025, beating off strong competition from Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, marking a defining moment in the Frenchman’s career.
Source: Getty Images
Dembele wins FIFA Best Men’s Player
Dembele’s rise to this honour caps a season many will remember for years. Once viewed as a player of flashes rather than consistency, he has rewritten that narrative with authority.
His performances for PSG carried weight, influence, and purpose, qualities that separated him from an elite shortlist.
According to FIFA, the award reflects an extraordinary campaign with the Parisian giants.
Dembele played a central role as PSG marched to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
Below are highlights of Dembele's performance in 2025:
On Europe’s biggest stage, he delivered eight goals and six assists, often stepping up when pressure peaked.
Across all competitions, Dembele registered 51 goal contributions in 53 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side, according to Transfermarkt.
He became the heartbeat of PSG’s attack, blending creativity with efficiency and leadership. Those displays, combined with his influence at the international level, convinced voters that his year stood above the rest.
Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which Dembele edged Yamal to win, The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is decided through a broad voting system.
National team coaches, captains, football journalists, and fans each contribute 25 per cent, creating a balanced reflection of opinion from across the global game.
Source: Getty Images
That collective verdict placed Dembele narrowly ahead of Yamal, whose season dazzled many, and Mbappe, who remained a dominant force.
Dembele reacts after winning FIFA Best Award
Present at the ceremony, the PSG winger spoke with emotion as he reflected on his journey. He told La Source Parisienne, first-ever; it's a lot of work. Happy to receive these trophies."
Dembele now joins an exclusive group of winners since the award’s introduction in 2016.
World Soccer Talk indicates that Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the first two editions, followed by Luka Modric in 2018.
Lionel Messi leads the roll of honour with three wins in 2019, 2022, and 2023, while Robert Lewandowski collected back-to-back awards in 2020 and 2021.
Last year’s holder, Vinicius Junior, was dethroned as Dembele stepped into the spotlight.
Dembele aims to win 2026 WC
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Ousmane Dembele is aiming to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup with France.
The winger said his focus is on staying fit and in top form so he can be ready for Les Bleus when the tournament begins in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Source: YEN.com.gh
