Dembélé Dominates: Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best in One Year

The prestigious FIFA Best Awards ceremony took place in Doha, marking a significant milestone in world football

The 2025 FIFA Best Awards ceremony was held in Doha, Qatar, concluding with a landmark announcement as French forward Ousmane Dembélé, aged 28 and currently with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), was named the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the year. This marks the first time since the award’s inception that a player born in the 1990s has secured this honour. The evaluation period considered performances and conduct between August 11, 2024, and August 2, 2025. Voting procedures involved four equal-weighted groups: international media, global football fans, national team head coaches, and captains.

This event, situated within Qatar’s ongoing prominence as a host for major football events, coincided with heightened global interest in football governance and athlete conduct, reflecting broader concerns observed in Malaysia and Southeast Asia regarding traffic management during live sporting events, crowd safety, and emergency response coordination.

The ceremony unfolded with key announcements, highlighting an intense season for top players and teams

Over the course of the evening, Ousmane Dembélé was announced as the 2025 World Footballer of the Year, having accumulated 50 points in the final voting. He was followed by Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal with 39 points and Paris Saint-Germain’s fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé scoring 35 points. This season, Dembélé completed 53 appearances for PSG, contributing 35 goals and 16 assists across competitions. His efforts were instrumental in PSG’s first-ever UEFA Champions League triumph, along with victories in Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, and reaching the FIFA Club World Cup final of 2025.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí secured her third successive Best Women’s Player award, maintaining her status as Ballon d’Or titleholder. Goalkeeping honours went to Manchester United’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton for the men’s and women’s categories respectively. Coaching accolades were awarded to PSG’s Luis Enrique and England head coach Sarina Wiegman.

This event was conducted under careful coordination with local authorities ensuring safety and smooth operations

According to event organisers and local authorities in Doha, comprehensive safety protocols were implemented in collaboration with Qatar’s civil defence and traffic departments to handle the large gathering. Measures included extensive traffic rerouting around the Lusail area, enhanced emergency response readiness, and cooperation with fire and police departments to mitigate any incidents during the event. Authorities confirmed no major accidents or disruptions occurred, highlighting the effectiveness of pre-planned safety arrangements.

Investigations led by Qatari civil authorities prior to the award ceremony focused on reviewing crowd movement patterns and emergency access points. This followed lessons learned from previous high-traffic events in Selangor and Seri Kembangan in Malaysia, where authorities have increasingly emphasised integrated traffic engineering and safety measures to reduce risks during mass gatherings.

Reactions across social media and expert commentary reflected a global appreciation for evolving football talent and governance

The announcement of Dembélé as FIFA’s Best Player sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms worldwide, including in Malaysia and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. While some analysts noted the generational shift evidenced by a post-1990s player claiming the top spot, others highlighted the implications for youth football development programmes across the region.

Industry observers opined that the award underscored football’s ongoing talent diversification and the increasing importance of holistic athlete conduct, a factor particularly emphasised in fan and coach voting. Insights from Malaysian football officials indicated a growing interest in integrating similar evaluation models within regional leagues to bolster integrity and performance standards.

The ceremony and outcomes are expected to influence football-related infrastructure and regulatory approaches in the near future

In the short term, the event demonstrated effective crowd and traffic management practices, contributing positively to regional knowledge exchange regarding event safety standards. Locally in Malaysia and specific areas such as Batu Caves and Seri Kembangan where football viewership events are common, stakeholders consider these findings relevant for improving logistics during major matches.

Long-term impacts could extend to engineering improvements in stadium access routes, enhanced integration between police and fire departments, and stronger safety protocols applicable across different football tournaments. Moreover, the recognition of conduct alongside athletic skill may prompt leagues to formalise codes of behaviour, aligning with global best practices highlighted by FIFA’s award criteria.

Location: Doha, Qatar

Date: 2025-12-17