This Tuesday, FIFA is experiencing one of the most anticipated days of the year with the handover of the The Best 2025 Awardswhose tenth edition will take place in Doha, Qatar, during a gala dinner with around 800 guests chaired by the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino. Although the solemn ceremony begins at 2 p.m. In Argentina – it will be broadcast live on the official FIFA channels – several awards were expected over the course of the morning.
The most Argentina representative: Independiente striker Santiago Montiel received the Puskas Award for his magnificent goal in the round of 16 of the Apertura tournamentin front of Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza. A trademark overhead kick from outside the penalty area beat goalkeeper Centurión, giving Rojo a 1-0 win and a place in the quarter-finals of the competition. Since its inception in the 2008/2009 season, only two Argentines had won the Puskas Award: Erik Lamela (2021) and Alejandro Garnacho (2024).
Montiel’s goal
The news, as seen in a FIFA preview video, This was announced by none other than the Frenchman Arsene Wenger, former coach of England Arsenal.among other things. “Wow,” says Wenger in surprise as he watches the video of the goal on a tablet, while Gianni Infantino makes an admiring gesture.
There is also in the video a message from the Argentine footballer: “Hello, I’m Santiago Montiel. I want to thank all the people who voted, the Independiente fans, the club, the football legends, FIFA. The truth is, I’m very happy to be awarded this award and I send you all a big hug.”
It was also previously announced that Gianluigi Donnarumma was voted best goalkeeper. The Manchester City goalkeeper defeated, among others, the Argentine Dibu Martínez, the two-time winner (2022 and 2024). The other shortlists were Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), David Raya (Arsenal), Yann Sommer (Inter Milan) and Wojciech Szczęsny (Barcelona).
It’s a perfect year for the Italian goalkeeper, who also won the traditional Ballon d’Or for best goalkeeper after winning the Champions League with PSG. Now it is led by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the protagonist in the fight for the Premier League.
FIFA was also named the best goalkeeper of the season Hannah HamptonFootballer for Chelsea and the English national team, with whom he won the European Cup held in Switzerland this year.
In the “Best Female Goal” category, the prestigious Martha Award went to Mexican Lizbeth Ovallefor his excellent definition during a match between his team, Tigres and Chivas. La Maga, as they call them, used a very unorthodox resource, almost a pirouette, which was christened a “prawn”.
Aside from that, Dr. Andreas Harlass-Neuking was announced as the winner of the 2025 FIFA Fair Play Award. Doctor for the German team SSV Jahn Regensburg since 1995, last April a fan of the local team collapsed before an important 2nd Bundesliga game between Regensburg and Magdeburg. Harlass-Neuking found out about the situation from the players and quickly went to the home fan zone, jumped over a barrier and revived the fan. The experienced doctor also ensured that the Magdeburg ventilator was stable enough to be transferred to a local hospital. This action earned him the FIFA award.
Awards will be presented at the gala to:
In the main category men are the big favorites Ousmane Dembeleyoungest Ballon d’Or and PSG player; Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid goalscorer and France captain; and Lamine Yamal, the jewel of Barcelona and the Spanish team. Rounding out the list are Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Nuno Mendes, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah and Vitinha.
The nominated coaches include Luis Enrique (PSG), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Hansi Flick (Barcelona), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), Roberto Martínez (Portugal), Javier Aguirre (Mexico) and Arne Slot (Liverpool).
And Kishi Núñez is a candidate for the 2025 FIFA The Best Marta Award, which honors the best women’s goal, for her spectacular long-range goal with the Argentina team against Costa Rica at the 2024 U-20 World Cup.
Off the field, racing fan Alejandro (Alejo) Ciganotto is nominated for the Best Fan Award for his cross-country journey to accompany the Academy in its continental campaigns, traveling thousands of miles across South America.
for the first time Lionel Messi is not among the nominees for the best player in the worlda historical fact that marks a break in the last era of football.
However, the Argentina captain will be involved in the gala as he is one of the strikers considered for the ideal eleven of the season, alongside other world champions such as Nicolás Otamendi, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez.
Best Player of the Year: Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Nuno Mendes, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah and Vitinha.
Best Coach of the Year: Javier Aguirre, Mikel Arteta, Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Enzo Maresca, Roberto Martínez and Arne Slot.
Best Player of the Year: Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn, Aitana Bonmati, Lucy Bronze, Mariona Caldentey, Temwa Chawinga, Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, Patri Guijarro, Lindsey Heaps, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexa Putellas, Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson.
Best women’s soccer coach: Sonia Bompastor, Jonatan Giraldez, Seb Hines, Renee Slegers and Sarina Wiegman.
Best goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Christiane Endler, Hannah Hampton, Anna Moorhouse, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
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