FIFA Best Award: Benni McCarthy and Michael Olunga Pick African Stars as Ousmane Dembele is Crowned

Ousmane Dembele won the FIFA The Best Award on Tuesday, adding another accolade to his Ballon d’Or Award but Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy and captain Michael Olunga had different picks.

Dembele, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona women star Aitana Bonmatí, claimed the award which rewards the best performers in men’s and women’s football, acknowledges the best coaches, goalkeepers, and the most spectacular goals.

The voting for The Best FIFA Football Awards is divided into four different sections, with each section contributing 25 per cent of the final result. The voting panel consists men's national team coaches, men's national team captains, journalists and fans.

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Dembele, who joined PSG in 2023 from Barcelona, emerged tops ahead of Barcelona teen sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe following an incredible season that saw him make 51 goal contributions in 54 matches, including scoring 35 goals.

His performances led PSG to a treble of league, cup and Champions League and after winning the Ballon d’Or, he was the overwhelming favourite to clinch the FIFA award.

However, Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga chose Dembele’s PSG team-mate Achraf Hakimi instead, placing the Moroccan first, ahead of the French forward, while completing his top three with Vitinha, another PSG player.

Hakimi also had a great season, contributing 11 goals and 16 assists from right-back, which earned him the African Footballer of the Year Award last month, becoming the first Moroccan since 1998 and first defender since 1973 to win Africa’s most prestigious award.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy selected Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah as his best in 2025, ahead of Dembele and Barcelona winger Raphinha.

Salah scored 34 goals and added 23 assists, including 29 league goals and 18 assists, as he guided Arne Slot’s side to the 2024-25 Premier League title.

Dembele joins an illustrious list of winners of the FIFA The Best Award, which includes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have claimed it since its inception in 2016.