The voting records for the 2025 FIFA Best Men’s Player award have been released, offering a fascinating look at who the world’s footballing icons believe is currently the best in the game.
PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé secured the trophy on Tuesday, successfully edging out finalists Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé.
While the voting is typically handled by national team captains, one notable exception was Portugal, where Bernardo Silva stepped in to vote instead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Voting Breakdown: Top Captains’ PicksThe following list details how some of the most prominent captains distributed their points:Lionel Messi (Argentina): 1. Dembélé, 2. Mbappé, 3. YamalMohamed Salah (Egypt): 1. Hakimi, 2. Dembélé, 3. MbappéHarry Kane (England): 1. Dembélé, 2. Vitinha, 3. SalahLuka Modrić (Croatia): 1. Vitinha, 2. Dembélé, 3. YamalBernardo Silva (Portugal): 1. Vitinha, 2. Mendes, 3. Dembélé
Highlights of the ResultsPoint of Interest DetailsWinner Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)Runners-Up Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) & Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)Tactical Voting Both Modrić and Silva prioritized Vitinha as their top choice.
Loyalty Mohamed Salah was the only captain in this group to vote for Achraf Hakimi as the world’s best.
Note: The “FIFA Best” award is determined by a combination of votes from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.