The Unstoppable Rise: Ousmane Dembélé and the Footballing Landscape of 2025 ⚽🏆
Who is the best footballer in the world in 2025? Read our deep dive into Ousmane Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or victory, Lamine Yamal’s record-breaking season, and the complete list of winners from the FIFA The Best Awards.
If you had told a football fan in 2023 that Ousmane Dembélé would be standing on the podium as the undisputed king of world football in 2025, you might have been met with a skeptical smirk. Yet, as the curtain falls on 2025, the narrative has shifted entirely. The French winger has not just answered his critics; he has redefined what it means to be a “game-changer,” sweeping every major individual award from the Ballon d’Or to The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
The year 2025 will be remembered as the era of the “Parisian Renaissance” and the meteoric rise of a new generation of superstars. Let’s break down the year that reshaped the beautiful game.
The Coronation: Ousmane Dembélé’s Masterclass
After years of being labeled “enigmatic” and “injury-prone,” the 28-year-old Dembélé finally found his home under the tactical genius of Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain. The 2024-25 season was his magnum opus. Playing in a versatile “false nine” and winger hybrid role, he recorded a staggering 48 goal contributions in 49 appearances.
His crowning achievement? Leading PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, capped by a masterful performance in the final against Inter Milan. By securing the treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Champions League), Dembélé became the consensus choice for the world’s best, holding off fierce competition from a teenager who is already being hailed as the next Messi.
The Challenger: Lamine Yamal’s Historic Year
While Dembélé took the gold, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal took the world’s breath away. Finishing second in the Ballon d’Or and FIFA rankings, Yamal has achieved things in 2025 that no teenager in the history of the sport has ever accomplished.
- Youngest Ever: He became the youngest player to score in every knockout stage of the Champions League.
- The Kopa Trophy: For the second year in a row, he claimed the title of the world’s best young player.
- The Heartbeat of Barça: Yamal spearheaded Barcelona’s domestic double (La Liga and Copa del Rey), proving that he isn’t just a “prospect”—he is the present and future of the club.
The Supporting Cast: Vitinha and Mohamed Salah
The 2025 rankings also highlighted the tactical evolution of the game. Vitinha, the Portuguese engine of PSG’s midfield, emerged as the world’s premier “beating heart” midfielder, finishing third in major awards. His ability to control the tempo of a game eclipsed even the legendary veterans.
Meanwhile, at 33, Mohamed Salah defied the aging curve. Firing Liverpool to their 20th English Premier League title, Salah equaled the record for goal contributions in a single season (47), reminding the world that “The Egyptian King” still sits firmly on his throne.
FIFA The Best 2025: All the Winners
The gala in Doha, Qatar, was a star-studded affair that confirmed PSG’s dominance and the rising tide of English talent in the women’s game.
| Award | Winner | Club/Country |
| The Best Men’s Player | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG / France |
| The Best Women’s Player | Aitana Bonmatí | Barcelona / Spain |
| The Best Men’s Goalkeeper | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Man City (formerly PSG) / Italy |
| The Best Women’s Goalkeeper | Hannah Hampton | Chelsea / England |
| The Best Men’s Coach | Luis Enrique | Paris Saint-Germain |
| The Best Women’s Coach | Sarina Wiegman | England |
| Puskás Award (Best Goal) | Santiago Montiel | Independiente (Overhead Kick) |
Why 2025 Changed Everything
For the first time in nearly two decades, the conversation has moved entirely past the Messi-Ronaldo era. While Lionel Messi continues to dazzle in MLS with Inter Miami, and Kylian Mbappé remains a force at Real Madrid (finishing 4th in the world this year), 2025 was about the collectives.
The year showed that high-pressing, high-intensity systems—like those of Luis Enrique and Hansi Flick—are the new gold standard. It also proved that the “market value” of youth is skyrocketing, with Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé all sharing a record €200m valuation.
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