Dembele is Messi's choice for FIFA The Best

Lionel Messi’s voice still carries immense weight in world football, and his choice for the FIFA The Best Men’s Player 2025 has added an extra layer of prestige to this year’s award. In his official vote, the Argentine icon selected his former Barcelona team-mate Ousmane Dembélé as the finest footballer of the year, underlining the Frenchman’s remarkable rise to the summit of the game.

The award was formally presented on Tuesday evening at a glittering ceremony in Doha, Qatar, where Dembélé was crowned FIFA The Best Men’s Player for 2025. Representing Paris Saint-Germain, the French winger emerged victorious from an elite shortlist that included Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s superstar forward Kylian Mbappé.

According to FIFA’s published voting details, Messi ranked Dembélé first, Mbappé second, and Yamal third in his personal ballot. FIFA further confirmed that the final result was determined through a global voting process involving national team captains, head coaches, and accredited media representatives from every football federation worldwide—ensuring a broad and professional assessment of individual excellence.

A Defining Year for Dembélé :

The year 2025 proved to be nothing short of extraordinary for Ousmane Dembélé. As a key leader within PSG’s attacking line, he inspired the Parisian club to the most successful season in its history. Under his influence, PSG captured their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, while also completing a domestic treble with victories in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

Dembélé’s individual numbers were equally impressive. Across all competitions, he delivered goals with consistency and flair, combining pace, creativity, and clinical finishing to devastating effect.

Ousmane Dembélé – 2025 Season at a Glance :

Respect from a Legend :

Messi’s admiration for Dembélé is not new. Earlier in September, after Dembélé claimed the Ballon d’Or, Messi publicly congratulated him, praising his maturity and influence on the pitch. The two players shared four seasons together at Barcelona, forging a strong professional bond before Messi’s move to PSG in 2021 briefly reunited them in Paris.

For Dembélé, receiving FIFA The Best is more than an individual honour—it is validation of a career that has often promised greatness and now delivered it consistently. Having battled injuries and inconsistency earlier in his journey, the Frenchman’s transformation into a decisive leader has been one of modern football’s most compelling narratives.

With Messi’s vote now etched into the official record, Dembélé’s 2025 triumph carries even greater significance. When one of the greatest players in football history places his trust and recognition in you, it serves as a powerful endorsement—and a defining moment in any footballer’s legacy.