Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the men's player of the year at the prestigious FIFA The Best Awards, while England's Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman secured a landmark victory as the women's coach of the year.
A Night for Champions: Dembele and Bonmati Reign Supreme
The ceremony, held on Tuesday 16 December 2025, saw Ousmane Dembele add another major individual honour to his collection after winning the Ballon d'Or earlier in the year. The 28-year-old forward was instrumental in PSG's historic season, which was capped by their first-ever UEFA Champions League title following a stunning 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final.
Dembele enjoyed a phenomenal individual campaign, netting 35 goals across all competitions, with 21 of those coming in Ligue 1 to secure the domestic golden boot. His success was part of a dominant treble-winning season for PSG under Luis Enrique, who was rightly named the men's coach of the year.
On the women's side, Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati continued her era of dominance by being named the women's player of the year. This marks her third consecutive FIFA award, mirroring her hat-trick of Ballon d'Or wins. The 27-year-old Spaniard was the heartbeat of a Barcelona side that secured a domestic treble and reached the Champions League final, and she was also named player of the tournament as Spain finished as runners-up at Euro 2025.
Wiegman's Historic Fifth Honour and English Success
The night held special significance for English football, with Sarina Wiegman claiming the women's coach of the year award for a record-extending fifth time. The Dutch tactician guided the Lionesses to a second successive European Championship title at Euro 2025 in Switzerland, defeating Bonmati's Spain in the final.
In a pre-recorded acceptance speech, Wiegman dedicated the award to her players and staff. "It's an absolute honour to receive this award again," she said. "This award is actually for players and staff. We've showed so much conviction, belief and togetherness that led us to our second Euro win."
Further English success came with Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton winning the best women's goalkeeper award. Hampton played a pivotal role in the Euro 2025 triumph with crucial penalty shootout saves and also won a domestic treble with her club.
Complete Award Winners and Premier League Recognition
The other major award winners included Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma, now of Manchester City, who won the men's goalkeeper prize for his role in PSG's treble. The Puskas Award for the best men's goal went to Santiago Montiel for his spectacular overhead kick in an Argentine Primera match, while Mexico's Lizbeth Ovalle won the equivalent Marta Award for a stunning scorpion kick.
The men's and women's world XIs featured strong Premier League representation:
- Men's Team: Included Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.
- Women's Team: Featured Lionesses stars Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, and Alessia Russo, alongside a host of Spanish players.
The 2025 FIFA The Best Awards solidified the status of football's current elite, celebrating a year of team triumphs and individual brilliance that captivated fans across the globe.
