Dembélé, Yamal Headline The Best FIFA Player Awards

Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal have headlined the list of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025, setting the stage for a thrilling contest following their recent showdown for the Ballon d’Or, which Dembélé claimed, with Yamal finishing in second place.

The competition also features a standout clash between England Lionesses star Alessia Russo and Aitana Bonmatí for the women’s award.

The Best FIFA Football Awards are presented annually to recognise the most exceptional players and coaches in the sport. Relaunched in 2017, the winners are decided by a combined vote from four equally weighted groups: national team captains and coaches, selected media representatives, and the general public. These awards provide a contemporary way to honour excellence in football, focusing on a specific performance period rather than a traditional calendar year. Recent notable winners include Bonmatí, who won the Best Women’s Player award in both 2023 and 2024, along with Vinícius Júnior and Lionel Messi, named Best Men’s Player in 2024 and 2023, respectively. These accolades represent the pinnacle of achievement within the world of football.

Yamal, the exceptional teenage talent, secured the Kopa Trophy in both 2024 and 2025 and was a runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. He played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s domestic treble and was part of the Spanish squad that triumphed at Euro 2024, showcasing his remarkable skills.

Dembélé, on the other hand, enjoyed a career-defining season, clinching the 2025 Ballon d’Or and winning the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain as part of another dazzling treble. He was also honoured as the Champions League Player of the Season.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane ended his long wait for a major trophy by securing the 2024/25 Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. His prolific goalscoring form saw him finish as the league’s top scorer for the second consecutive season, already netting 22 goals across all competitions for club and country this season. Other contenders such as Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, and Cole Palmer will also be eager to influence the award’s outcome.

Full List of Men’s Nominees:
– Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
– Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
– Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
– Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
– Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
– Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
– Pedri (Barcelona)
– Raphinha (Barcelona)
– Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
– Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
– Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Battle for the Women’s Crown

The contest for the women’s title promises to be fiercely competitive. Russo had an outstanding 2024-2025 season, winning the WSL Golden Boot with 12 goals for Arsenal. She was instrumental in leading the Gunners to a historic Champions League victory, contributing eight goals in the competition, and was named the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year. For Barcelona, Bonmatí continued her exceptional form, claiming her third consecutive Ballon d’Or. She was also key in Barcelona’s domestic treble and won the UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season award for the third time in succession.

Full List of Women’s Nominees:
– Sandy Baltimore (Paris Saint-Germain)
– Nathalie Bjorn (Chelsea)
– Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
– Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)
– Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
– Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
– Kadidiatou Diani (Olympique Lyonnais)
– Melchie Dumornay (Olympique Lyonnais)
– Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
– Lauren James (Chelsea)
– Chloe Kelly (Arsenal)
– Ewa Pajor (Barcelona)
– Claudia Pina (Barcelona)
– Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
– Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
– Leah Williamson (Arsenal)