November 7 – Only two months on from lifting the Ballon d’Or in Paris, Ousmane Dembélé finds himself leading another race – this time for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025.
FIFA has opened voting for its annual awards, unveiling an 11-man shortlist. Dembélé (pictured), who has reignited his career at Paris Saint-Germain, is the clear frontrunner after a season stamped with domestic and European success. His status as this year’s Ballon d’Or holder now leaves him within touching distance of a remarkable personal double.
Trailing him in the bookmaker betting markets are Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal, who continues to rewrite football’s age records with unnerving ease.
Voting – which began on November 6 and runs until November 28 – is split evenly between national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans, each group contributing 25% to the final outcome, unlike the Ballon d’Or which is solely voted for by journalists.
The men’s shortlist, heavy with LaLiga and Ligue 1 representation, underlines the balance of power in European football. PSG’s core of Hakimi, Mendes, and Vitinha join Dembélé, while Barcelona contribute three names in Pedri, Raphinha, and Yamal. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah remains the Premier League’s lone representative.
Yamal’s inclusion is another marker of his staggering ascent. At 18, he is already the youngest scorer in Euros history and, according to CIES data, the most valuable player in world football, with an estimated market worth of €350 million.
In the dugout, the men’s coach shortlist features Luis Enrique, Arne Slot, Hansi Flick, Mikel Arteta, and Roberto Martínez. Meanwhile, Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, and Emiliano Martínez headline the race for The Best Men’s Goalkeeper.
**Full list of nominees:**
**The Best FIFA Women’s Player nominees**
– Sandy Baltimore, France and Chelsea
– Nathalie Björn, Sweden and Chelsea
– Aitana Bonmatí, Spain and Barcelona
– Lucy Bronze, England and Chelsea
– Mariona Caldentey, Spain and Arsenal
– Temwa Chawinga, Malawi and Kansas City Current
– Kadidiatou Diani, France and Olympique Lyonnais
– Melchie Dumornay, Haiti and Olympique Lyonnais
– Patri Guijarro, Spain and Barcelona
– Lindsey Heaps, USA and Olympique Lyonnais
– Lauren James, England and Chelsea
– Chloe Kelly, England and Manchester City/Arsenal
– Ewa Pajor, Poland and Barcelona
– Clàudia Pina, Spain and Barcelona
– Alexia Putellas, Spain and Barcelona
– Alessia Russo, England and Arsenal
– Leah Williamson, England and Arsenal
**The Best FIFA Men’s Player nominees**
– Ousmane Dembélé, France and Paris Saint-Germain
– Achraf Hakimi, Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain
– Harry Kane, England and FC Bayern München
– Kylian Mbappé, France and Real Madrid
– Nuno Mendes, Portugal and Paris Saint-Germain
– Cole Palmer, England and Chelsea
– Pedri, Spain and Barcelona
– Raphinha, Brazil and Barcelona
– Mohamed Salah, Egypt and Liverpool
– Vitinha, Portugal and Paris Saint-Germain
– Lamine Yamal, Spain and Barcelona
**The Best FIFA Women’s Coach nominees**
– Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea
– Jonatan Giráldez, Washington Spirit/Olympique Lyonnais
– Seb Hines, Orlando Pride
– Renée Slegers, Arsenal
– Sarina Wiegman, England
**The Best FIFA Men’s Coach nominees**
– Javier Aguirre, Mexico
– Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
– Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain
– Hansi Flick, Barcelona
– Enzo Maresca, Chelsea
– Roberto Martínez, Portugal
– Arne Slot, Liverpool
**The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper nominees**
– Ann-Katrin Berger, Germany and Gotham FC
– Cata Coll, Spain and Barcelona
– Christiane Endler, Chile and Olympique Lyonnais
– Hannah Hampton, England and Chelsea
– Anna Moorhouse, England and Orlando Pride
– Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nigeria and Paris FC/Brighton & Hove Albion
– Phallon Tullis-Joyce, USA and Manchester United
**The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper nominees**
– Alisson Becker, Brazil and Liverpool
– Thibaut Courtois, Belgium and Real Madrid
– Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy and Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City
– Emiliano Martínez, Argentina and Aston Villa
– Manuel Neuer, Germany and FC Bayern München
– David Raya, Spain and Arsenal
– Yann Sommer, Switzerland and Internazionale Milano
– Wojciech Szczęsny, Poland and Barcelona
**FIFA Fan Award nominees**
– Alejandro Ciganotto (ARG)
– Manolo el del Bombo (ESP) (posthumous)
– Zakho fans (IRQ)
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [moc.l1762526751labto1762526751ofdlr1762526751owedi1762526751sni@g1762526751niwe.1762526751yrrah1762526751](javascript:;)