Who's 'The Best'? Kane, Yamal, Bonmatí on FIFA's Shortlist For Awards

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Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal are all prominently featured among the 11 nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2025. 

The nomination sets up another potential battle between Dembele and Yamal, who recently went head-to-head for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, an award Dembele ultimately won. And there's a showdown between England Lionesses hero Alessia Russo and Aitana Bonmatí for the women's gong.

Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas are among the women's nominees for FIFA's "The Best" Awards.(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The Best FIFA Football Awards are presented annually to honor the sport's most outstanding performers, including players and coaches. Relaunched in 2017, the winners are determined by a combined vote from four equally weighted groups. These groups include national team captains and coaches, selected media representatives, and the general public. The awards are seen as a modern way to celebrate excellence within the sport, covering a specific performance period rather than a calendar year. Recent notable winners include Bonmatí, who won Best Women's Player in both 2023 and 2024, and Vinicius Junior and Lionel Messi, who were named Best Men's Player in 2024 and 2023 respectively. These accolades reflect the highest achievements within the world of football.

Yamal, the brilliant teenage sensation, won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and 2025 and finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or. He was instrumental in Barcelona's domestic Treble and won Euro 2024 with Spain, showcasing incredible skill. Dembele had a career-defining season, winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or and the Champions League with Paris St-Germain as part of another stunning Treble. He was also named the