Ousmane Dembélé Named Guardian's Best Male Footballer of 2025

Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the title of the Guardian's best male footballer for 2025, finishing with a total of 128 points ahead of Lamine Yamal. The rankings were determined by a panel of 219 judges, who collectively assigned 179,580 points across their selections. Each judge ranked 40 players, with the top choice receiving 40 points and the lowest 1 point. This year’s voting revealed a close contest, as 216 judges included both Dembélé and Yamal in their lists, but Dembélé was the top choice for 101 judges compared to Yamal's 33.

The Guardian

The Guardian's list of the “100 Best Male Footballers in the World for 2025” also highlighted several players from Turkish football. Victor Osimhen, currently with Galatasaray, ranked 46th, while Hakan Çalhanoglu and Arda Güler were positioned at 52nd and 71st, respectively. Kenan Yildiz rounded out the Turkish representation at 89th. This inclusion underscores the growing influence of Turkish talent in global football.

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The Guardian has emphasized the transparency of its voting process, noting that individual voting records will be published alongside the full list. This year marks the 14th iteration of the male football rankings, and the publication has introduced a search engine feature for readers to explore historical rankings of various players.

The Guardian

While the rankings have been generally well-received, some critics argue that the voting system may favor established stars over emerging talents. The close margins between the top players have sparked discussions about the criteria used for ranking, with some suggesting that the subjective nature of the voting could lead to inconsistencies.

The Guardian

The Guardian's phased rollout of the rankings continues, with the top 10 players yet to be revealed. Following the announcement of ranks 71-100 and 41-70, anticipation builds for the unveiling of the most elite players in the coming days.

Arda Guler & Osimhen Feature in The Guardian’s “100 Best Footballers of 2025”

• “The inclusion of four players with strong ties to Turkish football underscores the rising influence of the nation’s talent on the world stage.” — Emre Sarigul, Voting Panel Member

Arda Guler & Osimhen Feature in The Guardian’s “100 Best Footballers of 2025”

In summary, Ousmane Dembélé's recognition as the best male footballer of 2025 highlights not only his individual achievements but also the competitive nature of football today, as reflected in the diverse rankings and the increasing prominence of Turkish players in the global arena.

Arda Guler & Osimhen Feature in The Guardian’s “100 Best Footballers of 2025”