Star Power Votes Exposed: Messi, Modrić, Salah Reveal Their 2025 FIFA Best Picks

The release of the 2025 FIFA Best Men’s Player voting results has provided insight into how some of football’s biggest stars cast their ballots.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé emerged as the overall winner on Tuesday, December 16, narrowly defeating Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi, one of the most closely watched voters, ranked Dembélé as his top choice, with Mbappé second and Yamal third.

Other national team captains also made their selections public. Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah voted for Achraf Hakimi in first place, followed by Dembélé and Mbappé.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane aligned with Messi’s preference by selecting Dembélé as his number one pick, placing Vitinha second and Salah third.

Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić chose Vitinha as his top candidate, ahead of Dembélé and Yamal.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva opted for Vitinha in first place, Nuno Mendes second and Dembélé third, leaving out Cristiano Ronaldo from his top three.

Winners at the 2025 FIFA Best Awards:

• The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Aitana Bonmatí

• The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Luis Enrique

• The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Sarina Wiegman

• The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma

• The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper: Hannah Hampton

• Puskás Award (Men’s Goal of the Year): Santiago Montiel (vs. Independiente Rivadavia)

• FIFA Marta Award (Women’s Goal of the Year): Lizbeth Ovalle (vs. Guadalajara)