Adriana Garcia
Dec 17, 2025, 10:09 AM
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Lionel Messi voted for former Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembélé as The Best FIFA Men's Player of 2025.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Dembelé received the award on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, after edging out Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Dembelé's France teammate Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid was the other finalist.
Previous winner Messi selected his ex-PSG teammate Mbappé as his second choice.
FIFA published the vote of each coach, captain and a media representative from each international federation for the women's and men's players in 2025.
Lionel Messi voted for former Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembelé for FIFA's The Best POY. Steph Chambers - Leagues Cup/MLS via Getty Images
- Best FIFA Men's Player: Dembélé beats Yamal, Mbappé to award
- England's Wiegman named FIFA The Best coach of the year
Yamal, who inherited Messi's iconic Barcelona No. 10 jersey, was the Argentinian's third pick.
Dembelé led PSG to their first Champions League title and to the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France trophies. He scored 35 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions.
Messi was among many peers to congratulate Dembélé when he beat Yamal to win the Ballon d'Or in September.
The Argentinian played four seasons with Dembélé at Barcelona before moving to PSG in 2021.