First he won the Ballon d’Or, now he has also been named world footballer: the Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé. There is a series winner among women. And a German also receives a FIFA award.
Ousmane Dembélé is a world footballer for the first time. The Frenchman from Paris Saint-Germain prevailed in the election against his compatriot Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and the Spaniard Lamine Yamal. The 28-year-old former Bundesliga player from Borussia Dortmund is the successor to the Brazilian Vinicius Junior. The Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí from FC Barcelona was honored as the world’s best player for the third time in a row.
National coaches, selection captains, football journalists and fans took part in the election via FIFA’s official homepage.
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.
Best goalkeeper and best goalkeeper
FIFA had previously announced other awards. Gianluigi Donnarumma has been named World Goalkeeper of the Year. The 26-year-old Italian beat 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 Dembélé, Donnarumma and the 25-year-old Hampton had already won the Ballon d’Or earlier this year.
Donnarumma, who now plays for Manchester City, won both the Champions League and the championship and cup in France with Paris Saint-Germain last season. The 2021 European champion moved from AC Milan to PSG in the same year and was the regular goalkeeper in Paris until the summer.
After winning the Champions League with a 5-0 win against Inter Milan in Munich, the player and club were unable to agree on an extension of the contract, which runs until 2026. PSG then brought in Lucas Chevalier from league rivals Lille. In the Supercup against Tottenham, Donnarumma wasn’t even in the squad.
German football fans will remember Donnarumma for his momentous clash with Jamal Musiala at the Club World Cup quarter-final between FC Bayern Munich and PSG. The 22-year-old national player suffered a broken fibula and only returned to team training on Tuesday after a good five months.
Prize for German team doctor
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.”
dpa/mel
