Dembélé, Yamal set to battle for FIFA Best award
Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal will renew their rivalry for world football’s top individual honours after both were named among the nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025, FIFA announced on Thursday.
Dembélé, who lifted the Ballon d’Or in September ahead of Yamal, will again compete with his Barcelona counterpart for the sport’s top accolade. The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s triumph in Paris sparked debate across Spain after Yamal’s father called the outcome “the biggest moral damage done to a human being.”
The 27-year-old Dembélé, who has flourished under Luis Enrique at PSG, headlines a star-studded men’s list that also includes teammates Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes. Premier League representation comes through Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Pedri, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal completing the lineup.
Luis Enrique, who guided PSG to the UEFA Champions League title last season, is among the nominees for The Best Men’s Coach, joined by Liverpool’s Arne Slot, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Germany boss Hansi Flick, and others.
In the women’s categories, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí—fresh from her third consecutive Ballon d’Or—leads a dominant field featuring several stars from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona. Mariona Caldentey, who finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or, returns among the nominees alongside Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Lauren James, and Chloe Kelly.
England manager Sarina Wiegman, who steered her team to the European Championship title this summer, headlines the women’s coach nominees, joined by Arsenal’s Renée Slegers and Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor.
The FIFA Best Awards ceremony, scheduled for early 2025, is expected to once again pit Dembélé and Yamal in a close contest that mirrors the generational shift currently reshaping European football.
Men’s Player Nominees: Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah, Vitinha, Lamine Yamal.
Women’s Player Nominees: Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Björn, Aitana Bonmatí, Lucy Bronze, Mariona Caldentey, Temwa Chawinga, Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, Patri Guijarro, Lindsey Heaps, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson.
Men’s Coach Nominees: Javier Aguirre, Mikel Arteta, Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Enzo Maresca, Roberto Martínez, Arne Slot.
Women’s Coach Nominees: Sonia Bompastor, Jonatan Giráldez, Seb Hines, Renée Slegers, Sarina Wiegman.
The awards will recognize the standout performers of the 2024–25 season, with voting open to national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans worldwide.