Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé from Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain has been named world footballer of the year. For the women, the honor went to the Spanish Aitana Bonmatí from FC Barcelona for the third time in a row at a gala organized by the FIFA World Association in Doha.
Dembélé received the honor for the first time. The Frenchman prevailed in the election against his compatriot Kylian Mbappé and the Spaniard Lamine Yamal. The 28-year-old former Bundesliga player from Borussia Dortmund is the successor to the Brazilian Vinícius Júnior.
The Spaniard Luis Enrique, who led Paris Saint-Germain to their first title in the Champions League and prevailed in the election against, among others, former national coach Hansi Flick from FC Barcelona, was chosen as world coach 2025. Sarina Wiegman was voted best trainer. The Dutchwoman won her third European Championship title as a selection coach with England last summer.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hannah Hampton are world goalkeepers of the year
FIFA had previously announced other awards. Gianluigi Donnarumma has been named World Goalkeeper of the Year. The 26-year-old Italian won the election against seven opponents led by Manuel Neuer from FC Bayern Munich.
In the women’s category, the award went to England’s national goalkeeper and European champion Hannah Hampton from Chelsea FC. German selection keeper Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), who was also nominated, came away empty-handed. Both Donnarumma and 25-year-old Hampton had previously won the Ballon d’Or this year.
German team doctor honored
While Germans came away empty-handed in all other categories, FIFA honored Andreas Harlass-Neuking with the Fair Play Award 2025. The team doctor from third division team SSV Jahn Regensburg was honored for his work during an emergency in Magdeburg. Before Regensburg’s second division game against 1. FC Magdeburg in April, Harlass-Neuking was made aware by players that a Magdeburg fan had collapsed.
The doctor ran to the fan block, resuscitated the man and arranged for him to be transported to a hospital. “Your sportsmanship, selflessness and charity reflect the best aspects of our beautiful sport,” wrote Fifa boss Gianni Infantino, praising Harlass-Neuking for his “presence of mind and quick action.”
