Coronation in Qatar: Offensive star Ousmane Dembélé from Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain is the World Footballer of the Year 2025. The Frenchman was named “The Best” by FIFA at the world association’s gala on Tuesday in Qatar’s capital Doha. Dembélé succeeds the Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, who won the election last year. Dembélé beat his compatriot Kylian Mbappé from Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona). “It was a fantastic year for me – for me personally and with the team,” said Dembélé, who said with a view to the 2026 World Cup: “I hope that I can come back next year.”
The currently injured Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí was recognized as a world footballer for the third time in a row. The coaches and captains of the national teams as well as selected media representatives and fans were allowed to vote. Record national player Lothar Matthäus is still the only German to be voted world footballer in the history of the vote (1991). In the women’s category, however, there have already been several German award winners in Birgit Prinz, Nadine Angerer and Nadine Keßler.
Among the coaches, Luis Enrique from PSG prevailed, followed by former national coach Hansi Flick (FC Barcelona) and Liverpool master coach Arne Slot. Sarina Wiegman was named world coach for the fifth time; the Dutchwoman led England’s women to defend their European Championship title in the summer.
The goalkeeper choice was won by the Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has since moved from Paris to Manchester City – Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) was left behind. The best goalkeeper is the Englishwoman Hannah Hampton, who beat Ann-Katrin Berger, among others.
The 28-year-old Dembélé, a former professional from Borussia Dortmund, had already won the Ballon d’Or in September, which is considered the more important prize in professional circles. Competing awards have confused fans for years. From 2010 to 2015, the trade magazine “France Football” honored the best of the year together with FIFA, but since then both parties have been fighting for supremacy.
