World Federation Trophy
Fifa names Dembélé world footballer of the year
Updated 12/16/2025 – 7:15 p.mReading time: 1 min.
As every year, FIFA will name the World Footballer of the Year in 2025. Vinícius Júnior’s successor has now been determined.
He prevailed against the well-known competition: On Tuesday evening in the Qatari capital Doha, FIFA named Ousmane Dembélé World Footballer of the Year 2025. He follows Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who was awarded the trophy last year.
Dembélé’s compatriot Kylian Mbappé from Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) were also nominated. But in the end the professional from Paris Saint-Germain won the race. Dembélé won the Champions League with the French capital club in May.
“It was a fantastic year for me – for me personally and with the team,” said Dembélé, who added with a view to the 2026 World Cup: “I hope that I can come back next year.”
The coaches and captains of the national teams as well as selected media representatives and fans were allowed to vote. Record national player Lothar Matthäus is still the only German in the history of the vote to be elected world footballer (1991).
In the women’s category, however, there have already been several German award winners: Birgit Prinz, Nadine Angerer and Nadine Keßler. This year the Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí once again prevailed.