Ousmane Dembele wins the FIFA Best Men’s Player award after a treble winning season with PSG and a starring role in their first Champions League triumph.
Paris Saint Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has been named the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year. The award was presented in Doha on Tuesday night. It caps a remarkable year for the France international. Dembele follows up his Ballon d’Or win from September. He beat competition from Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe. The award covers performances from August 2024 to August 2025.
The 28-year-old was honoured after leading PSG to four trophies last season. Those included Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and a first Champions League title. PSG also lifted the Trophee des Champions.
Dembele collected the award hours before PSG’s Intercontinental Cup final. He was present at the ceremony alongside club officials.
Dembele produced 51 goal contributions in 53 matches last season. He scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists across all competitions. Eight of those goals came in the Champions League. Several of his strikes proved decisive in knockout matches. He scored against Liverpool and Arsenal before the final. His impact grew after being redeployed as a central forward.
This season he has three goals and three assists so far. His minutes have been managed carefully as he struggles with injury niggles. PSG have continued to build around him.
Dembele’s campaign was not smooth from the start. He struggled for rhythm during the early months. Luis Enrique adjusted his role midway through the season. That change unlocked Dembele’s best form. He became more central and more decisive. His movement and finishing improved sharply. Luis Enrique later described him as irreplaceable. The coach also won the FIFA Best Men’s Coach award as PSG dominated the ceremony.
The Champions League final win over Inter Milan defined PSG’s season. Dembele did not score but led the press and created space. His work rate set the tone. Gianluigi Donnarumma also featured heavily in PSG’s success. The goalkeeper won the FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper award. Six PSG players were named in the men’s team of the year. Virgil van Dijk and Cole Palmer were the only Premier League representatives. The list highlighted PSG’s dominance across competitions. It reflected a complete team effort.
Dembele also impressed with France. He helped Les Bleus qualify for the 2026 World Cup. France will face Senegal, Norway and a play-off winner in the group stage. His performances added weight to his club success. Voters included national team coaches and captains. Journalists and fans also took part.
The combined voting rewarded consistency at the highest level. Dembele topped all three final nominees. His rise to the summit is now complete.
PSG face Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday. Dembele is not expected to start. Another trophy is within reach. Domestically, PSG return to Coupe de France action later this week when they face Fontenay. They continue their title defence on January 4th when they host FC Paris with Dembele central to their plans.
