Dembélé Overlooked By Broos For FIFA Best Award
As FIFA confirmed Ousmane Dembélé as the winner of the FIFA Best Men’s Player 2025 on Tuesday, it emerged that he was not among the first choices of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
The dynamic Paris Saint-Germain and France attacker was rewarded following an outstanding 2024/25 season with PSG.
Dembélé was a talismanic figure during the club’s historic run to a maiden UEFA Champions League title, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in their triumphant European campaign. He was also named the 2024/25 season’s MVP in both the Champions League and Ligue 1 as PSG completed a remarkable domestic treble.
The 28-year-old further helped the French giants reach the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
Key achievements:
- Won the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League
- Won the 2024/25 Ligue 1
- Won the 2024/25 Coupe de France
- Won the 2024 Trophée des Champions
- Runner-up at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025
- Finished third at the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League
- Named 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season
- Named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season
- Named Ligue 1 Player of the Year
- Named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year
- Joint top scorer in the 2024/25 Ligue 1
Despite this impressive list of accolades, Broos did not select the French superstar in any of his three votes. Instead, his first choice was Bayern Munich and England captain Harry Kane, followed by Barcelona and Spain sensation Lamine Yamal in second place, and Morocco and PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi in third.
In contrast, Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams — who was nominated for the FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper award, eventually won by Manchester City and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma — selected Dembélé as his first choice. Williams placed Yamal second and Hakimi third.
Sportscaster Robert Marawa also backed Dembélé as his top pick, with Hakimi second and Egypt captain and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah third.
Eight-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi voted for Dembélé as his first choice, followed by Kylian Mbappé in second and Yamal in third.
Surprisingly, Portugal captain and five-time FIFA Best winner Cristiano Ronaldo did not cast a vote. Instead, Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva voted on behalf of Portugal. Silva selected his national teammate Vitinha as his first choice, Nuno Mendes second, and Dembélé third.
In addition to claiming the FIFA Best Men’s Player award, Dembélé also won the Ballon d’Or, organised by France Football magazine, earlier this September.
