See FIFA Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025

November 7, 2025 BusinessTrumpet

On November 6, 2025, FIFA officially announced the list of 11 nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, covering the period of outstanding performances in men’s football from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025. This period included, among others, the 2024-25 club seasons in Europe, the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the USA, the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, and various international fixtures. These nominees underline the shifting landscape of football, as neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo made the list-Messi for the first time, and Ronaldo for the fourth consecutive year. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona lead the charge, with four and three nominees, respectively, following their treble-winning campaigns.

The award pits FIFA’s recognition against the Ballon d’Or, won by Ousmane Dembélé in September 2025, with Dembélé and runner-up Lamine Yamal the early favorites here. Voting will be open up until November 28, 2025, at 23:59 CET via FIFA’s dedicated platform, with national team captains, coaches, journalists, and fans in each of the mentioned groups weighted equally. The winner will be announced at the ceremony in early 2026 (date and location TBD).
Notably missing, however, is 2024 winner Vinícius Júnior despite Real Madrid’s successes.

Background on The Best FIFA Football Awards

Kicked off in 2016, after FIFA parted ways with France Football over the Ballon d’Or, The Best awards give recognition to performances at the top level throughout each category, from Men’s and Women’s Player to Coach, Goalkeeper, and more. The Men’s Player award considers club and international performances and can often contrast to the journalist-voted Ballon d’Or because of its wider voting base. Past winners include Lionel Messi (3 times), with recent recipients like Vinícius Júnior (2024).

This year’s shortlist was selected by a FIFA expert panel, with a focus on trebles-PSG and Barcelona-individual brilliance in leagues, as well as contributions to major events such as the Club World Cup.

Full List of Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025

The 11 nominees, in alphabetical order by last name, with current club and key highlights from the evaluation period:

Analysis and Favorites

Club Dominance: PSG has four nominees, while Barcelona boasts three; this simply underscores their 2024-25 trebles.
• Front-Runners: Ousmane Dembélé, the Ballon d’Or prestige, versus Lamine Yamal, youthful impact, and Euro 2024 heroics, sets a rematch. Other names include Mbappé for goal-scoring prowess and Salah for Premier League consistency, splitting the votes.
Notable Omissions: Messi, Ronaldo, Vinícius Júnior, Rodri, and Jude Bellingham was indicative of a generational shift.
Voting Influence: Fan votes might consider global stars like Mbappé or Yamal; the captains/coaches might opt for players with a big tactical influence, such as Vitinha or Pedri.

How to Vote and Next Steps
The supporters will be able to vote on the official website or via the app, but only for the top three players, with 5, 3, and 1 point respectively. The Puskás Award shortlist is yet to be announced.

It is a nod to this dynamic shortlist in the post-Messi/Ronaldo period, rewarding the best campaigns of 2024-25. The final result could also prove to be different from the Ballon d’Or, just as in years gone by. Stay tuned for the awards ceremony—the best in football await their crowning moment!

Below are the nominees as officially listed by FIFA / Inside FIFA release.