So, Ousmane Dembélé actually did it. If you’d told me two years ago that he’d be standing in Doha holding the trophy for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, I probably would’ve laughed. But after that Champions League run with PSG and a 2025 season where he basically turned into a cheat code, here we are. He’s the man everyone is chasing now.
But football doesn't stop for breath. We’re already staring down the barrel of the 2026 cycle, and things are looking weird. FIFA is moving the whole show to Dubai starting next year, and the "The Best" branding is getting a massive facelift. If you’re trying to keep track of the current nominations for the best FIFA men's player, you have to look at who is dominating the pitch right now, because the 2025 winners were just crowned in mid-December.
The 2025 ceremony in Qatar was a total Paris Saint-Germain takeover. Dembélé took the top spot with 50 points, Lamine Yamal came in second with 39, and Kylian Mbappé—now in his Real Madrid era—rounded out the top three with 35. It feels like the "Messi-Ronaldo" era didn't just end; it got buried under a mountain of young, lightning-fast wingers.
Who is Leading the 2026 Conversation?
Honestly, the "nominations" for the next window aren't official yet—FIFA usually drops the shortlist in the autumn—but the power rankings are already shifting. If you look at the 2026 World Cup cycle, the names are familiar but the narratives have changed.
Lamine Yamal is the name on everyone's lips. He’s eighteen. Let that sink in. He was the runner-up last month, and with Barcelona leading La Liga and his insane form for Spain, he’s the heavy favorite to go one better next time. People used to call him a "prospect." Now? He’s the guy veteran defenders are genuinely terrified of.
Then there's the Erling Haaland factor.
Haaland had a bit of a "down" year by his standards (which means he only scored like 30 goals instead of 50), but with Norway looking like they might actually make the 2026 World Cup, his stock is rising again. He’s currently climbing the power rankings alongside Yamal.
The Real Madrid Contingent
Real Madrid always has a horse in this race. It’s basically a law of nature.
- Kylian Mbappé: He’s still the most complete attacker in the world. Even though he finished third in the 2025 voting, his volume of goals at Madrid is keeping him right in the mix.
- Jude Bellingham: He was in the "The Best Men’s 11" for 2025. His ability to control a game from midfield while still popping up with 90th-minute winners makes him a perennial nominee.
- Vinícius Júnior: The 2024 winner. He’s still there, still dancing, still one of the most effective players on the planet.
Why the 2025 Results Matter for 2026
You can't talk about the future without looking at the weirdness of the 2025 vote. Mohamed Salah equaled a Premier League record with 47 goal contributions (29 goals, 18 assists) and was a nominee, yet he didn't crack the top three. It shows that FIFA voters—national team captains, coaches, and journalists—are heavily biased toward Champions League success and international trophies.
Dembélé won because PSG finally got that elusive Champions League trophy, thumping Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. That’s the bar. If you want to be among the current nominations for the best FIFA men's player, you basically need a trophy and a viral highlight reel.
Cole Palmer is another one to watch. He won the Golden Ball at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Think about that. A Chelsea player winning a global individual award while the club is still "rebuilding." He’s become the heartbeat of that team and a locked-in nominee for whatever FIFA calls the award in 2026.
The New Format in Dubai
Gianni Infantino dropped a bombshell recently. Starting in 2026, "The Best" is being replaced by a joint initiative with the Dubai Sports Council. It’s going to be the "only official" FIFA awards ceremony.
What does this mean for the players? Probably more glitz, definitely more travel, and a new selection criteria that we haven't seen yet. They’re calling it an "innovative way to celebrate football," which is FIFA-speak for "we’re changing everything."
The Current "Best 11" (The Ones to Beat)
If you want to know who the 2026 nominees will likely be, just look at the 2025 World 11. These are the guys currently holding the keys to the kingdom:
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (who just moved to Manchester City).
- Defense: Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes.
- Midfield: Cole Palmer, Vitinha, Pedri, Jude Bellingham.
- Forwards: Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal.
Notice someone missing? No Messi. No Ronaldo. No Haaland. The 2025 XI was dominated by PSG and Barcelona. If you’re betting on the 2026 nominations, look at those two clubs—and maybe Liverpool, given how well Raphinha and Mohamed Salah have been playing.
Misconceptions About the Voting
A lot of fans think this is just a popularity contest. Kinda is, kinda isn't.
The vote is split four ways: 25% from national team coaches, 25% from captains, 25% from journalists, and 25% from fans. That’s why you sometimes see "weird" results. A player might be loved by the fans but ignored by the coaches who value tactical discipline.
For example, in the 2025 cycle, Luis Enrique won Best Coach because he swept almost everything with PSG. But Hansi Flick was right on his heels because of the "Vibes" he brought back to Barcelona. The voters see things differently than we do on Twitter (or X, whatever).
What to Watch in the Coming Months
If you're tracking the race for the next crown, keep an eye on the Champions League knockout stages and the World Cup qualifiers.
- The "New" Messi: Lionel Messi is actually entering the conversation again. He’s been tearing it up with Inter Miami and Argentina, and with the 2026 World Cup being on "home" soil for his club, the narrative is writing itself. Goal.com recently put him back in their top 10 power rankings.
- The Arsenal Surge: Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyökeres (who moved to Arsenal and started scoring for fun) are dark horses. If Arsenal clinches a major trophy, expect them to gatecrash the nominations.
- The Vitinha Factor: He won the Silver Ball at the Club World Cup. He’s the most underrated midfielder in the world right now, and the professionals know it even if the casual fans don't.
Honestly, the race is wide open. We are in a transition period where the old gods have left the building and the new ones are still figuring out how to keep the lights on. Lamine Yamal is the crown prince, but Dembélé isn't ready to give up the throne just yet.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Track the Champions League Quarter-Finals: The winner of the 2026 award will almost certainly come from one of the four semi-finalists.
- Follow the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Since the 2026 award will be influenced by the lead-up to the tournament, players like Haaland (Norway) and Salah (Egypt) need their nations to qualify to stay relevant in the voting.
- Check the New Dubai Awards Portal: Later this year, FIFA will launch the official site for the revamped 2026 ceremony; bookmarking the official FIFA "The Best" page now will ensure you see the shortlist the second it's leaked.