Bonmatí and Dembélé headlined a FIFA Best Awards ceremony in Doha that crowned a season of sustained dominance and landmark success.
Doha | By Sayer Zaland, AIPS Member
World football’s leading figures gathered in Qatar on Tuesday night as The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 recognised the standout players, coaches and moments of the 2025, with Aitana Bonmatí and Ousmane Dembélé taking the top individual honours at the ceremony.
The event, staged on the eve of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 final, brought together players, coaches, officials and guests from across the football world. The event held in Lusail, Qatar closing a season marked by historic milestones and sustained excellence at the club and international level.
Bonmatí Claims Unprecedented Third Women’s Crown
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named The Best FIFA Women’s Player for a third consecutive year, becoming the first woman to achieve the distinction.
Bonmatí was recognised after another influential season for club and country, while Barcelona and Spain finished runners-up in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 finals. The 27-year-old was voted Most Valuable Player in both competitions and remained central to Barcelona’s domestic treble. “I’m very grateful and proud to win my third FIFA The Best award,” Bonmatí said in a video message. “I’m thankful to the players, coaches and fans who voted. To be recognised by people I compete with and against means a great deal.”
Dembélé Rewarded After Defining Season with PSG
On the men’s side, Ousmane Dembélé was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025, receiving the award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The France forward played a leading role in Paris Saint-Germain’s most successful season, helping the club win the Coupe de France, secure their 13th Ligue 1 title, and lift the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. PSG also finished runners-up at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
“Hard work pays off,” Dembélé said after collecting the award. “It has been a fantastic year for me, individually and as part of a team.”
Coaching Awards Reflect Sustained Success
England manager Sarina Wiegman was named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach after leading the Lionesses to a second successive UEFA Women’s EURO title, further extending her record as the most decorated coach in the women’s game.
“It’s very special,” Wiegman said. “This award belongs to the teams I’ve worked with. Without them, you achieve nothing.”
In the men’s category, Luis Enrique was voted The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, following his role in PSG’s Champions League breakthrough and a season that delivered multiple trophies.
Goalkeepers Recognised for Decisive Performances
Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was named The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper, after playing a decisive role in both Chelsea’s domestic treble and England’s European title run. Her penalty shoot-out saves proved crucial in the latter stages of the tournament.
Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma received The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award for his performances with PSG during their Champions League-winning campaign, before completing a move to Manchester City earlier this year.
Special Awards and Broader Recognition
The ceremony also highlighted memorable moments and acts beyond silverware. Lizbeth Ovalle won the FIFA Marta Award for her acrobatic goal for Tigres in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, while Santiago Montiel claimed the FIFA Puskás Award for an overhead kick scored in Argentina’s Primera División.
The FIFA Fan Award went to supporters of Zakho SC in Iraq for a coordinated display that saw thousands of stuffed toys thrown onto the pitch for donation to sick children. The FIFA Fair Play Award was presented to Dr Andreas Harlass-Neuking of SSV Jahn Regensburg after he saved a fan’s life during a 2. Bundesliga match.
World XIs Reflect Season’s Power Centres
Fans and experts also selected The Best FIFA Women’s 11 and Men’s 11, with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, England and Spain dominating both line-ups. Bonmatí featured among six Barcelona players in the Women’s XI, while Dembélé appeared in the Men’s XI alongside four of his PSG team-mates.
A Season Defined by Consistency
All awards were decided through an equally weighted vote involving fans, national-team captains and coaches, and media representatives, covering performances between August 2024 and August 2025.
The ceremony in Doha reflected a season in which consistency, leadership and team success shaped football’s highest individual honours, reinforcing the direction of the modern game at the elite level.