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Ousmane Dembele
Dembele enjoyed a stunning season for Paris Saint-Germain, guiding them to UEFA Champions League glory, where they romped to a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final, and a domestic double with Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory. The 28-year-old France international, who was named Champions League player of the season and Ligue 1 player of the year, helped PSG reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ in swashbuckling style, where their dreams of further glory were dashed by Chelsea at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.
Achraf Hakimi
Morocco international Hakimi cemented his status as one of the most revered wing-backs in world football after another trophy-laden campaign for Paris Saint-Germain, where his attacking instincts contributed to a first-ever UEFA Champions League crown for the French giants. Hakimi was a constant threat to opposition defences during the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring two goals and providing two assists, as PSG cruised through to the final with knockout victories over Inter Miami, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in which they scored 10 and conceded none.
Harry Kane
Munich striker Kane continued to do what he does best during the qualification period – scoring goals at a metronomic rate. He notched 26 in the Bundesliga as Bayern were crowned champions, earning himself the player of the season title. Kane bagged 11 more in the UEFA Champions League, including four in one match against Dinamo Zagreb as the German giants reached the last eight. They would fall at the same hurdle to PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup, with Kane finding the net on three occasions in the global tournament.
Kylian Mbappe
France international Mbappe returned to the scene of his FIFA World Cup final hat-trick at Lusail Stadium in Qatar to find the net once again as Real Madrid were crowned FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ champions with victory over Pachuca in December 2024. The powerful forward was also on target in the UEFA Super Cup final victory over Atalanta, and would go on to claim the Pichichi Trophy after his 31 La Liga goals helped Real to runners-up spot behind Barcelona. Mbappe’s goalscoring exploits in all competitions saw him claim the European Golden Shoe.
Nuno Mendes
Lining up on the opposite flank to his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Hakimi, Nuno Mendes offers a similar level of attacking threat alongside defensive steel in his wing-back role. The Portugal international was a key member of Luis Enrique’s impressive squad who eased their way to UEFA Champions League glory in 2025, scoring in both legs of PSG’s quarter-final success against Aston Villa. The 23-year-old featured in all seven of PSG’s FIFA Club World Cup outings, and helped his country to UEFA Nations League glory after scoring in the final against Spain.
Cole Palmer
Palmer was simply unstoppable in the FIFA Club World Cup final as Chelsea upset the odds to lift the trophy with a 3-0 victory against a formidable Paris Saint-Germain side. The England international scored twice in a devastating first-half for the English Premier League outfit as he was named Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match and claimed the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Palmer had already guided the Blues to continental silverware as they lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy, with the 23-year-old again player of the match in the final with Real Betis.
Pedri
Fleet-footed playmaker Pedri was pivotal to Barcelona’s domestic success during the 2024/25 season as Hansi Flick’s side claimed top spot in La Liga ahead of Real Madrid and lifted the Copa del Rey with victory over their fierce rivals. Further success against Real would follow in January, as the Supercopa de Espana was secured. Barcelona’s thrilling Champions League campaign came to a dramatic conclusion against Inter Milan at the semi-final stage, while Pedri helped Spain reach the UEFA Nations League final, only to be edged out by Portugal on penalties.
Raphinha
Raphinha’s contribution to Barcelona’s La Liga triumph was recognised as he was named player of the season in Spain’s elite division following an outstanding campaign in which title success was coupled with Copa del Rey glory. Further silverware followed in January as the Brazil international’s two goals contributed to an enthralling 5-2 success over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana. Raphinha shared top goalscorer honours with Serhou Guirassy in the UEFA Champions League after netting 13 times en route to the semi-finals and recorded more assists (nine) than any other player.
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool’s Egyptian king ruled the English Premier League in 2024/25 with his phenomenal attacking returns firing the Anfield outfit to their 20th top-flight crown as they finished 10 points clear of nearest challengers Arsenal and 13 ahead of outgoing champions Manchester City. Salah recorded a Premier League record-equalling 47 goal contributions, with 29 goals and 18 assists seeing him claim the division’s Golden Boot honours and unsurprisingly be named player of the season. Salah was also named in the CAF team of the year for 2024 for his displays with Egypt.
Vitinha
The fourth member of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad to be nominated, midfield talisman Vitinha joins fellow Portugal international Nuno Mendes in having tasted both UEFA Champions League and UEFA Nations League success in the same season after respective victories over Inter Milan and Spain. On top of PSG’s domestic double of Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory, Vitinha played a pivotal role as PSG brushed aside top-tier opponents to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final, earning the adidas Silver Ball for his consistent displays prior to defeat by Chelsea in the global showpiece.
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona’s teenage sensation continued to belie his tender years with a series of performances of astonishing maturity, ability and self-confidence. The Spain international came to the fore in a series of key fixtures for his club, finding the net in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, only to suffer last-four heartbreak at the hands of Inter Milan. Domestic glory was secured in the shape of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana trophies, with the precocious youngster on target against Real Madrid in the latter of these.
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Previous winners
2024 – Vinicius Jr | Rodri | Jude Bellingham
2023 – Lionel Messi | Erling Haaland | Kylian Mbappe
2022 – Lionel Messi | Kylian Mbappe | Karim Benzema
2021 – Robert Lewandowski | Lionel Messi | Mohamed Salah
2020 – Robert Lewandowski | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi
2019 – Lionel Messi | Virgil van Dijk | Cristiano Ronaldo
2018 – Luka Modric | Cristiano Ronaldo | Mohamed Salah
2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi | Neymar
2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi | Antoine Griezmann
2015 – Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | Neymar
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi | Manuel Neuer
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi | Franck Ribery
2012 – Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | Andres Iniesta
2011 – Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | Xavi
2010 – Lionel Messi | Andres Iniesta | Xavi
2009 – Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | Xavi
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi | Fernando Torres
2007 – Kaka | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro | Zinedine Zidane | Ronaldinho
2005 – Ronaldinho | Frank Lampard | Samuel Eto’o
2004 – Ronaldinho | Thierry Henry | Andriy Shevchenko
2003 – Zinedine Zidane | Thierry Henry | Ronaldo
2002 – Ronaldo | Oliver Kahn | Zinedine Zidane
2001 – Luis Figo | David Beckham | Raul
2000 – Zinedine Zidane | Luis Figo | Rivaldo
1999 – Rivaldo | David Beckham | Gabriel Batistuta
1998 – Zinedine Zidane | Ronaldo | Davor Suker
1997 – Ronaldo | Roberto Carlos | Dennis Bergkamp and Zinedine Zidane (tied)
1996 – Ronaldo | George Weah | Alan Shearer
1995 – George Weah | Paolo Maldini | Jurgen Klinsmann
1994 – Romario | Hristo Stoichkov | Roberto Baggio
1993 – Roberto Baggio | Romario | Dennis Bergkamp
1992 – Marco van Basten | Hristo Stoichkov | Thomas Hassler
1991 – Lothar Matthaus | Jean-Pierre Papin | Gary Lineker
