“The Best” gala in Qatar
Who will be World Footballer of the Year 2025?
Updated 12/16/2025 – 6:27 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Gala in Doha: The FIFA world footballer will be crowned again in the capital of Qatar. Who will be Vinícius Júnior’s successor? Follow the show in the live ticker.
As every year, FIFA will nominate a world footballer of the year in 2025. The favorites for the “The Best” gala in Doha are Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Barça star Lamine Yamal. The world footballer of the year will also be honored. Who will win the race this year?
6:25 p.m.: Fifa is now announcing the Fifa team of the year in women’s football. Unsurprisingly, the team only consists of English and Spanish players, including Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas. Both nations were in the European Championship final in the summer.
6:22 p.m.: The first really big prize is awarded. Former US star Mia Hamm announces: World Coach of the Year once again Sarina Wiegman. It is her fifth award after 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
6:19 p.m.: Next up is the Fifa Puskás Prize for the most beautiful goal among men. The winner: Santiago Montiel from Club Atlético Independiente.
6:15 p.m.: Now it’s about the Marta Prize. This honors the most beautiful goal in women’s football last season. Lizbeth Ovalle won the vote. The Mexican plays in her home country for Tigres Femenil.
6:10 p.m.: Now Fifa boss Gianni Infantino welcomes the guests. An effusive praise for host country Qatar should not be missing. The 55-year-old is known to have close ties to the emirate, which has been heavily criticized for its human rights situation.
6:08 p.m.: The start of the show has been delayed a bit. But now it starts in Doha. Italy’s world champion Alessandro Del Piero and Swiss actress Melanie Winiger will host the evening.
5:59 p.m.: Nice from a German perspective: FIFA has awarded Andreas Harlass-Neuking the Fair Play Award 2025. The team doctor from third division team SSV Jahn Regensburg was honored for his work during an emergency in Magdeburg.
5:57 p.m.: FIFA has already announced who will be World Goalkeeper of the Year. The choice fell on Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian beat seven other competitors, including Manuel Neuer. World Goalkeeper of the Year is Hannah Hampton, who defended the European Championship title with England in the summer.