The Ultimate Guide to FIFA’s 2025 Awards Gala: Stars, Surprises, and How to Tune In

The football world turns its gaze eastward as Doha prepares to host the prestigious The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025. This gala evening, set for December 16th, is the sport’s annual celebration of individual brilliance, where the game’s most outstanding players, coaches, and breathtaking moments from the past season are honored.

Marking its tenth edition, the ceremony holds special significance. It represents a decade of FIFA recognizing excellence across the global football landscape, with fans playing an increasingly central role in the democratic voting process. This year’s event is intricately woven into the football calendar, taking place on the eve of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, also in Doha, creating a festival of football at the heart of the game.

The Stage Is Set in Doha

The glittering ceremony will unfold at the Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha, Qatar, commencing at 8:00 PM local time (5:00 PM GMT / 12:00 PM ET). In a streamlined format, the main gala dinner for approximately 800 guests—including FIFA officials, legends, and ambassadors—will follow earlier digital announcements for awards like the best goals and goalkeepers.

For fans worldwide, accessibility is paramount. The entire ceremony will be broadcast live and for free exclusively on FIFA’s official digital platforms, including FIFA.com and FIFA+. No subscription or cable login is required; viewers simply need to visit the site at the scheduled start time to witness the winners being unveiled.

The Leading Contenders and Major Nominees

The nominations reflect performances between August 11, 2024, and August 2, 2025, capturing a thrilling period of club and international football.

The Battle for Best Men’s Player

The men’s award features a fascinating clash between established superstars and a sensational teenager. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, fresh off winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, is a strong favorite following a historic treble-winning season with his club. His primary challenge is expected to come from Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the prodigious talent whose meteoric rise continues to captivate the world.

Table: Key Contenders for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025

The Pursuit of a Triple Crown in Women’s Football

In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí stands on the cusp of an incredible achievement. Having already secured her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin in September, she aims to complete a matching trio of FIFA Best awards. Her dominance faces competition from a powerful cohort of English internationals from clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Lyon.

Coaches and Goalkeepers in the Spotlight

The coaching awards spotlight tactical masterminds. PSG’s Luis Enrique, who guided his team to the pinnacle of European football, is tipped for the men’s honor. The women’s category features a compelling narrative with Sarina Wiegman of England seeking to reclaim the award after leading her nation to another European Championship triumph.

Between the posts, the men’s goalkeeper race is fiercely contested. It features modern greats like Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, with Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma also in strong contention following his stellar final season at PSG. For the women, Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, a hero of England’s Euros win, is a standout nominee.

A Celebration of Skill: The Puskás and Marta Awards

Separate from the main performance awards, the FIFA Puskás Award and the FIFA Marta Award celebrate the pure artistry of goal-scoring for men and women, respectively. These honors often produce the most viral moments of the night.

This year’s Puskás nominees include spectacular strikes from across the globe, such as Declan Rice’s stunning free-kick for Arsenal against Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal’s breathtaking effort in the Barcelona derby against Espanyol. The Marta Award shortlist showcases the brilliance in the women’s game, featuring goals from stars like Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Vivianne Miedema.

How the Winners Are Chosen: A Democratic Vote

The integrity of The Best awards is upheld by a uniquely democratic voting system. The final result in the primary categories (Best Player, Coach, and Goalkeeper) is determined by four equally weighted voting groups, each contributing 25%:

• The captains of all FIFA-registered national teams.
• The head coach of each national team.
• One specialized journalist from each territory.
• An online vote open to fans worldwide.

This structure ensures that the voices of those inside the game and the global fanbase are balanced. For 2025, this process engaged over 16 million fan votes, underscoring the award’s massive global reach and the power of the football community.

The fan’s role is even more pronounced in selecting the FIFA Fan Award and the Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s 11, where public vote is the sole or primary determinant.

Historical Context and Prestige

Since their inception in 2016, The Best FIFA Awards have carved out their own significant place in football. They are often viewed as FIFA’s counterpart to the longer-established Ballon d’Or, with a distinct focus on a season aligned with the football calendar and a more inclusive voting electorate.

Recent winners illustrate the award’s elite standard. The 2024 men’s winner was Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, while the women’s award was claimed by Aitana Bonmatí for the second year running. A victory for Bonmatí in 2025 would see her join an exclusive club of three-peat winners, further solidifying her legacy.

A Decade of Excellence
As this year’s ceremony marks the tenth anniversary of The Best awards, it is a moment to reflect on its evolution into a key date in the football diary—a night that genuinely seeks to celebrate the best of the beautiful game as determined by its global family.

Tonight’s ceremony in Doha is more than just an awards show; it is the culmination of a year of extraordinary footballing effort and a global conversation about excellence. From the democratic vote of millions to the anticipation of the winner’s speeches, it connects every fan to the sport’s highest level. As the stars gather at the Fairmont Katara Hall, the football world waits as one to discover who will be crowned The Best.