Ousmane Dembélé Crowned FIFA Men’s Player of the Year After Historic PSG Season

Ousmane Dembélé’s remarkable resurgence reached its ultimate peak on Tuesday night as the Paris Saint-Germain and France forward was named FIFA Men’s Player of the Year at the Best Awards ceremony in Qatar.

At 28, Dembélé capped a defining 2024–25 campaign that saw him emerge as the central figure in PSG’s most successful season to date. Already crowned Ballon d’Or winner in September, the Frenchman added another prestigious individual honour after playing a decisive role in PSG’s unprecedented quadruple, highlighted by the club’s long-awaited first UEFA Champions League title.

Dembélé delivered 51 goal contributions in 53 appearances across all competitions, a return that underlined his evolution from a mercurial winger into a decisive attacking leader under Luis Enrique. His transformation accelerated midway through the season after being redeployed as a central forward, a tactical shift that unlocked his finishing instincts and positional intelligence.

Eight of his 35 goals arrived in the Champions League, including pivotal strikes against Liverpool and Arsenal in the knockout stages, performances that ultimately separated him from fellow finalists Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé in the voting.

The award, covering performances between August 2024 and August 2025, is decided by a global panel comprising national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans. Dembélé attended the ceremony on the eve of PSG’s Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo, further highlighting his central role in the club’s global ambitions.

Internationally, he also played a key part in helping France qualify for the 2026 World Cup, where Les Bleus will face Senegal, Norway, and a play-off qualifier in the group stage.

Dembélé now joins an elite list of FIFA Best winners, following in the footsteps of legends such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, cementing his place among the defining players of his generation.

Elsewhere on the night, PSG’s dominance was reflected in the Team of the Year, with six players selected, while Virgil van Dijk and Cole Palmer were the only Premier League representatives. Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Luis Enrique was named Coach of the Year after masterminding PSG’s historic campaign.

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