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The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025: Best Men’s Player, Best Men's XI, winners and date
Cameron Smith
- 16 Dec 2025 18:36 GMT
- 11 min read
FEATURE
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony took place on 16 December 2025, with Ousmane Dembele named The Best Men's Player.
FIFA no longer runs the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize, but it does oversee its own in-house 'The Best FIFA Football Awards' - an event that is still a landmark ceremony every year.
The biggest prize on offer is the Best Men’s Player of the Year award, but there are also several other big honours handed out every year, including the Best Men's and Women's XI, the Puskas Award for the best goal scored and the Best Women’s Player.
Furthermore, recognition is also given to the top coaches in the men’s and women’s games.
Here at FootballTransfers, we have compiled everything you need to know for the The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony 2025.
What were the shortlists for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025?
Best FIFA Men's Player
- Ousmane Dembele (PSG/France)
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France)
- Nuno Mendes (PSG/Portugal)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea/England)
- Pedri (Barcelona/Spain)
- Raphina (Barcelona/Brazil)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt)
- Vitinha (PSG/Portugal)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)
Best FIFA Women's Player
- Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea/France)
- Nathalie Bjorn (Chelsea/Sweden)
- Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona/Spain)
- Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England)
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal/Spain)
- Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current/Malawi)
- Kadidatou Diani (Lyon/France)
- Melchie Dumornay (Lyon/Haiti)
- Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain)
- Lindsey Heaps (Lyon/USA)
- Lauren James (Chelsea/England)
- Chloe Kelly (Arsenal/England)
- Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland)
- Claudia Pina (Barcelona/Spain)
- Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain)
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal/England)
- Leah Williamson (Arsenal/England)
Who were the favourites for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025?
Ousmane Dembele was the clear favourite for the main prize, and he duly scooped the award at the ceremony on 16 December after also winning the Ballon d'Or in September.
Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe were also expected for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award in 2025, but the latter did not even earn an inclusion in the Men's Best XI.
Chloe Kelly and Aitana Bonmati were among the favourites to win The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2025, with the Spaniard once again coming out on top for the third consecutive time.
What are The Best FIFA Football Awards?
Following the 1990 World Cup in Italy, FIFA decided to launch its own ceremony to celebrate the best player in the world every year. It slowly gained traction, incorporating a women’s award in 2001, alongside several other trophies.
There are now 10 awards: The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The FIFA Puskas Award, The FIFA Marta Award, The FIFA Fair Play Award and The FIFA Fan Award.
In addition, there are also The Best FIFA Men's and Women's XIs.
How are The Best FIFA Football Awards decided and who votes?
The Best FIFA Football Awards include fans in the voting process, giving the people a voice.
The voting for the FIFA Puskas Award, for example, sees fans vote online for one of the 11 finalists drawn up by a panel of experts, with a final trio then decided.
Fans are responsible for 50% of the votes cast, with a panel of football experts providing the other 50% to decide the eventual winner.
The FIFA Fan Award is entirely decided by fans, with no input from journalists, coaches or players when it comes to determining the winner. Three moments are chosen and fans vote online to ultimately decide the winner.
Fans also have the chance to cast their votes for The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper awards, and The Best FIFA Men's and Women's XI.
Fans can vote for their top three favourites per category, with first choice generating five points, second choice three points, and third choice one point.
The voting window is usually over a two-week period around a month before the awards ceremony.
When was The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony?
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony took place on Tuesday, 16 December.
Where was The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony?
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony was held in Doha, Qatar.
Who presented The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony?
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero and Swiss actress and model Melanie Winiger presented the 2025 ceremony.
Samantha Johnson and Cristina Gullon were the hosts for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 ceremony, while Reshmin Chowdhury and Thierry Henry fronted the awards in 2023.
Johnson and ex-England international Jermaine Jenas were the hosts for 2022, while Jenas was accompanied by the aforementioned Chowdhury in 2021.
What is The Best FIFA Men’s Player award?
The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is exactly that - the award given to the best men’s player of the given year.
It is voted for by several different groups of people within the football world and the winner is decided from an original shortlist.
Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 award.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Men’s Player and FIFA World Player of the Year award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Lothar Matthaus (Germany) |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten (Netherlands) |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio (Italy) |
| 1994 | Romario (Brazil) |
| 1995 | George Weah (Liberia) |
| 1996 | Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 1997 | Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 1999 | Rivaldo (Brazil) |
| 2000 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2001 | Luis Figo (Portugal) |
| 2002 | Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 2003 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2004 | Ronaldinho (Brazil) |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho (Brazil) |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) |
| 2007 | Kaka (Brazil) |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2018 | Luka Modric (Croatia) |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2020 | Robert Lewandowski (Poland) |
| 2021 | Robert Lewandowski (Poland) |
| 2022 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2024 | Vinicius Junior (Brazil) |
| 2025 | Ousmane Dembele (France) |
What is The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award?
Similar to The Best FIFA Men’s Player, but solely for goalkeepers, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award celebrates the best player in between the sticks each calendar year, to give more recognition to a position that seldom wins individual prizes. The first award was handed out in 2017.
Gianluigi Donnarumma won the award in 2025.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) |
| 2018 | Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) |
| 2019 | Alisson Becker (Brazil) |
| 2020 | Manuel Neuer (Germany) |
| 2021 | Edouard Mendy (Senegal) |
| 2022 | Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) |
| 2023 | Ederson (Brazil) |
| 2024 | Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) |
| 2025 | Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy) |
What is The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award?
This award celebrates the work of the best coaches in world football, and it ultimately decides which manager is considered to have been the best over the past 12 months.
The 2025 award went to PSG manager Luis Enrique.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Men's Coach award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Claudio Ranieri (Italy) |
| 2017 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2018 | Didier Deschamps (France) |
| 2019 | Jurgen Klopp (Germany) |
| 2020 | Jurgen Klopp (Germany) |
| 2021 | Thomas Tuchel (Germany) |
| 2022 | Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) |
| 2023 | Pep Guardiola (Spain) |
| 2024 | Carlo Ancelotti (Italy) |
| 2025 | Luis Enrique (Spain) |
What is The Best FIFA Women’s Player award?
Just as with The FIFA Best Men’s Player, there is an award for the best female player each calendar year as well. It started in 2001, 10 years after the men’s award was introduced, and brings more recognition and attention to women’s football.
Like the men's award, the honour changed name following FIFA's split with the Ballon d'Or in 2016.
Aitana Bonmati won the award for a third consecutive year in 2025.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Women’s Player and FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Mia Hamm (USA) |
| 2002 | Mia Hamm (USA) |
| 2003 | Birgit Prinz (Germany) |
| 2004 | Birgit Prinz (Germany) |
| 2005 | Birgit Prinz (Germany) |
| 2006 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2007 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2008 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2009 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2010 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2011 | Homare Sawa (Japan) |
| 2012 | Abby Wambach (USA) |
| 2013 | Nadine Angerer (Germany) |
| 2014 | Nadine Kessler (Germany) |
| 2015 | Carli Lloyd (USA) |
| 2016 | Carli Lloyd (USA) |
| 2017 | Lieke Martens (Netherlands) |
| 2018 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2019 | Megan Rapinoe (USA) |
| 2020 | Lucy Bronze (England) |
| 2021 | Alexia Putellas (Spain) |
| 2022 | Alexia Putellas (Spain) |
| 2023 | Aitana Bonmati (Spain) |
| 2024 | Aitana Bonmati (Spain) |
| 2025 | Aitana Bonmati (Spain) |
What is The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award?
Similar to The Best FIFA Women’s Player, but solely for goalkeepers, The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award celebrates the best player in between the sticks each calendar year, to give more recognition to a position that seldom wins individual prizes. The first award was handed out in 2019.
Hannah Hampton won the award in 2025.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Sari van Veenendaal (Netherlands) |
| 2020 | Sarah Bouhaddi (France) |
| 2021 | Christiane Endler (Chile) |
| 2022 | Mary Earps (England) |
| 2023 | Mary Earps (England) |
| 2024 | Alyssa Naeher (USA) |
| 2025 | Hannah Hampton (England) |
What is The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award?
This award celebrates the work of the best coaches in women's football, and it ultimately decides which manager is considered to have been the best over the past 12 months.
England women's national team boss Sarina Wiegman won the award for a record-extending fifth time in 2025.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Women's Coach award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Silvia Neid (Germany) |
| 2017 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2018 | Reynald Pedros (France) |
| 2019 | Jills Ellis (England/USA) |
| 2020 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2021 | Emma Hayes (England) |
| 2022 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2023 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2024 | Emma Hayes (England) |
| 2025 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
What is The Best FIFA Men’s 11?
Since 2005, the world players’ union FIFPRO has asked professional footballers worldwide to select the best players in the game each calendar year, with over 25,000 players participating in the vote.
The goalkeeper, as well as the three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who receive the most votes are selected for the World 11. The remaining spot in the World 11 is assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes who is not selected already.
The award partnered with FIFA in 2009, but their relationship ended in 2024, and there are now two separate XIs - The FIFPro World XI and The Best FIFA Men's/Women's XI.
The FIFPro XI is solely decided by professional players across the world, while The Best FIFA XI includes input from fans.
There were several differences between each team in 2024 - the first year of the split - with Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior included in both The FIFPro World XI and The Best FIFA Men's XI.
The Best FIFA Men's XI for 2025
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy); Nuno Mendes (Portugal), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Willian Pacho (Ecuador), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco); Pedri (Spain), Vitinha (Portugal), Jude Bellingham (England), Cole Palmer (England); Ousmane Dembele (France), Lamine Yamal (Spain)
The Best FIFA Women’s XI in 2024
Hannah Hampton (England); Ona Batlle (Spain), Irene Paredes (Spain), Leah Williamson (England), Lucy Bronze (England); Claudia Pina (Spain), Patri Guijarro (Spain), Aitana Bonmati (Spain); Alexia Putellas (Spain, Alessia Russo (England), Mariona Caldentey (Spain)
What is the FIFA Puskas Award?
Created in 2009 in honour of Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskas, captain and star of the Hungary national team during the 1950s, the FIFA Puskas Award is handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year.
The criteria is: an aesthetically beautiful goal, awarded without distinction of championship, gender or nationality.
Santiago Montiel won the 2025 FIFA Puskás Award.
Past winners of FIFA Puskas Award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) |
| 2010 | Hamit Altintop (Turkey) |
| 2011 | Neymar (Santos) |
| 2012 | Miroslav Stoch (Fenerbahce) |
| 2013 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) |
| 2014 | James Rodriguez (Colombia) |
| 2015 | Wendell Lira (Goianésia) |
| 2016 | Mohd Faiz Subri (Penang) |
| 2017 | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) |
| 2018 | Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) |
| 2019 | Dániel Zsóri (Debrecen) |
| 2020 | Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 2021 | Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 2022 | Marcin Oleksy (Warta Poznan) |
| 2023 | Guilherme Madruga (Botafogo) |
| 2024 | Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) |
| 2025 | Santiago Montiel (Independiente) |
What is the FIFA Marta Award?
Created in 2024 in honour of Brazil legend Marta, the FIFA Marta Award is handed out to the women's player judged to have scored the best goal of the year.
The criteria is: an aesthetically beautiful goal, awarded without distinction of championship, gender or nationality.
Lizbeth Ovalle won the 2025 FIFA Marta Award.
Past winners of FIFA Marta Award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2025 | Lizbeth Ovalle (Tigres) |
What is the FIFA Fair Play Award?
The FIFA Fair Play award recognises exemplary behaviour that promotes fair play, sportsmanship and compassion in football. It can be awarded to a player, a coach, a team, fans or even entire footballing communities.
The winner in 2025 was Jahn Regensburg team doctor Andreas Harlass-Neuking for saving a fan's life during a game.
What is the FIFA Fan Award?
The FIFA Fan award was created in 2016 and celebrates the best fan moment or event across the calendar year.
The 2025 award was won by the fans of Iraq's Zakho SC for their efforts in helping children who suffer from illnesses.
Are The Best FIFA Football Awards and the Ballon d’Or the same?
No, they are not. The Ballon d’Or is a ceremony founded and run by France Football, whereas The Best FIFA Football Awards were founded and run by FIFA. They are two separate awards, although between 2010 and 2015, they merged together to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
They separated for 2016 and have remained two different awards since then. Before the merge, The Best FIFA Football Awards was known as FIFA World Player of the Year.
