FIFA The Best Award Overshadowed by Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembélé named the best player of the year according to The Best awards. Following his Ballon d'Or victory, this recognition is hardly surprising: 35 goals, 16 assists, a treble with PSG, and, on top of that, the Champions League.

The question is not whether Dembélé is deserving—he absolutely is. The question lies elsewhere: why is FIFA devaluing its own award?

Last year, the organization made the right move. While Rodri claimed the Ballon d'Or, The Best was awarded to Vinícius Jr.

Two deserving players, two different choices, resulting in debates in bars and groups that lasted for a month. Real Madrid conspicuously ignored the France Football ceremony, while Rodri appeared on crutches to accept his award after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.

This was pure football theater: it drew attention and elevated the value of both awards. In 2025, there were sufficient candidates for debate as well: Vitinha with incredible stats, Raphinha following a strong season, Salah continuing to score for Liverpool, and the young Yamal.

FIFA had plenty of room to maneuver in its decision-making. Even if another player besides Dembélé had been chosen, it would have ignited discussions.

However, the organization followed France Football's lead, effectively turning its event into a delayed extension of the Ballon d'Or. In such a case, why does The Best even exist as a separate award?

The voting records only added to the confusion. Aleksandr Golovin gave his top spot to Mbappé, while Valeri Karpin ranked Vitinha the highest—choices that seem more reasonable than the final outcome.

Journalist Oleg Koshelev included Salah in his top three, a decision that felt even more justifiable considering the Egyptian was excluded from the ceremonial Best XI. The Best XI itself raised questions: Palmer was included, while Raphinha was not.

Moisés Caicedo collected the same number of points as Bellingham, yet the Englishman made the lineup while the Ecuadorian did not. According to the rules, tied points are resolved in favor of the player with more expert votes—Caicedo had more but still missed out.

FIFA did not even attempt to explain these decisions. The most delicate aspect of the ceremony also couldn't go unnoticed.

Achraf Hakimi, who plays alongside Dembélé at PSG, gave his top vote to Mbappé, his close friend at Real Madrid, placing Dembélé only in second.

Parisian fans reacted harshly: “traitor,” “prioritized friendship over a teammate,” “send him back to Madrid.” RMC Sport quoted Dembélé’s remarks after the award:

“Hard work pays off.

Thank you, Gianni Infantino, for the message on my birthday.” Yet these words were drowned out by the noise surrounding how others voted.

Messi completed his top three selection with Dembélé, Mbappé, and Yamal. Bernardo Silva, voting on behalf of Cristiano Ronaldo, included three PSG players in his top three: Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and Dembélé.

In the coaching category, Luis Enrique emerged as the winner. He claimed the award after leading PSG to a 5-0 victory over Inter in the Champions League final. His team swept the league title, two domestic cups, the Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.

Yet even here everything seemed predictable, logical, and consequently dull. FIFA had the chance to organize not just a football celebration but also a lively debate.

Instead, the ceremony became a cold, formal act of awarding prizes, devoid of excitement. That Dembélé had a dream season is undisputed.

However, individual awards in team sports are meant to fuel discussions. FIFA voluntarily surrendered this opportunity.

The Best now feels like a secondary award, merely confirming the verdict of France Football a month later. What’s the point of that?

The ceremony in Doha will be remembered for one thing: FIFA wasted its chance to create intrigue, damaging its own reputation. Dembélé, on the other hand, now has to explain why his own club’s defender didn’t consider him the best.

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