A Night That Belonged To The Game’s Difference Makers
Football’s biggest individual honours found familiar faces at the FIFA Best Awards in Qatar, but the stories behind the trophies carried fresh weight. Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati, the same winners of the Ballon D’Or walked away with the men’s and women’s top prizes, sealing years that were not just successful on paper, but deeply human in how they unfolded.
Held on the eve of the Intercontinental Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo, the ceremony felt like a celebration of momentum. Qatar has quickly become a regular stop on football’s global calendar, and this time it played host to two players who defined the past season in very different ways.
Dembele’s Long Road To The Summit
For Dembele, this moment felt like validation rather than surprise. Once labelled inconsistent and injury-prone during his earlier years in Germany and Spain, the 28-year-old has quietly rebuilt his reputation at PSG.
The numbers tell part of the story. Thirty-five goals across all competitions. A domestic league and cup double. And most significantly, PSG’s first ever Champions League title. He already lifted the Ballon d’Or in September, but the Fifa Best award confirmed that his dominance was recognised far beyond France.
Speaking after collecting the trophy, Dembele was quick to shift focus away from himself. He credited teammates, hard work and collective belief, a tone that resonated with fans who have watched him mature from raw talent into a leader.
Luis Enrique’s influence did not go unnoticed either. The Spaniard was named men’s coach of the year after guiding PSG through their historic campaign, finishing ahead of Hansi Flick and Premier League title winner Arne Slot.
Bonmati’s Brilliance Through Adversity
If Dembele’s story was about fulfilment, Bonmati’s was about resilience. The Barcelona midfielder claimed the women’s Fifa Best award for a third consecutive year, matching her remarkable run of Ballon d’Or wins.
Yet this was not a flawless season. Bonmati battled illness early on, recovering from viral meningitis that forced her to miss Spain’s first two matches at the European Championship. She returned to become player of the tournament, even as Spain fell short in the final.
She also endured heartbreak in Europe with Barcelona, losing the Champions League final, and later suffered a fractured leg in training just before Spain’s Nations League triumph over Germany.
Despite those setbacks, her influence never dipped. Fans across Spain praised her mental strength, while fellow players flooded timelines with messages calling her the standard for modern midfielders.
Accepting the award, Bonmati thanked teammates, coaches and fans, a nod to the collective spirit that continues to define Barcelona and Spain’s golden generation.
Recognising Excellence Across The Pitch
The ceremony also celebrated standout performances elsewhere. Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the men’s goalkeeping award after adding Champions League success with PSG before his move to Manchester City. Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton picked up the women’s prize following her Euro 2025 triumph.
Spectacle was rewarded too. Santiago Montiel’s stunning overhead kick in Argentina earned the Puskas Award, while Lizbeth Ovalle’s acrobatic scorpion kick in Mexico claimed the Marta Award, moments that reminded fans why football remains endlessly shareable and unforgettable.
Why These Awards Matter
Beyond the trophies, this year’s Fifa Best Awards reflected a shift in how excellence is measured. Longevity, recovery, leadership and influence now sit alongside goals and medals.
With winners chosen through a combined vote of fans, media, captains and coaches, the recognition felt democratic and global. For Dembele and Bonmati, it was not just about being the best. It was about being believed in, again and again, by the football world.
And judging by the reaction, few would argue they did not earn it.
Source: Super Sport
Featured Image Source: FIFA on X
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