Ousmane Dembélé named Best Male Player at Globe Soccer Awards
Ousmane Dembélé’s remarkable 2025 reached its crowning moment on Sunday night as the Paris Saint-Germain forward was named Best Male Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
The accolade completes an extraordinary year for the French international, who has already secured football’s most prestigious individual prizes, including the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Men’s Player award, after leading PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League triumph.
Dembélé completes clean sweep of world honours
The Globe Soccer Awards, staged annually in the United Arab Emirates since 2010, once again gathered the biggest names in global football to celebrate excellence across the men’s and women’s game. Dembélé emerged as the standout figure of the night, reaffirming his status as the world’s best player.
The 28-year-old enjoyed the most prolific season of his career in 2024/25, scoring 35 goals in all competitions and playing a defining role in PSG’s historic Champions League run. Along the way, the French champions eliminated three Premier League sides before delivering a dominant 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in a final widely regarded as one of the most one-sided in the competition’s history.
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Once labelled an inconsistent talent during spells at Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, Dembélé finally fulfilled his immense potential, becoming the focal point of PSG’s attack and a leader on the European stage.
Although injuries have disrupted parts of his 2025/26 campaign, his performances earlier in the year were enough to secure a clean sweep of football’s top individual honours, culminating in the Globe Soccer Award for Best Male Player.
Lamine Yamal shines despite missing top prize
While Dembélé took the headline award, Lamine Yamal also enjoyed a memorable night in Dubai as the Barcelona teenager continued his rapid rise among football’s elite.
The 18-year-old, who finished runner-up to Dembélé in the Ballon d’Or voting, picked up two awards at the ceremony. Yamal was named Best Forward, reflecting his growing influence at both club and international level, and also received the Diego Armando Maradona Award, which recognises exceptional skill, flair, and technical brilliance.
Yamal had been shortlisted for the Best Male Player award alongside stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Raphinha and Vitinha, but ultimately lost out to Dembélé, who also edged him in the recent FIFA Best Men’s Player vote.
Related Article: Ballon d’Or 2025: Lamine Yamal wins Kopa Trophy
Despite missing the top honour, Yamal’s recognition underlined his emergence as one of the most exciting talents in world football and a central figure in Barcelona’s future.
Dembélé reflects on historic year
Speaking earlier this month after collecting the FIFA Best award, Dembélé paid tribute to those around him who contributed to his success.
“I want to thank my team-mates,” he said. “Hard work pays off. It’s been a fantastic year for me, both individually and collectively.”
With PSG’s long-awaited Champions League title secured and every major individual honour added to his collection, Dembélé’s place at the summit of world football is now firmly established.
SportsLigue