Top Footballers of 2025: A Year in Review
As 2025 draws to a close, it has proven to be an exceptional year for numerous footballers.
From rising young talents to seasoned veterans showcasing their enduring skills, BBC Sport highlights some of the standout players in men's football over the past year.
Readers are invited to vote for their choice of the best footballer of 2025 at the end of this article.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
The England captain has been in remarkable form this year, continuing his prolific scoring for Bayern Munich.
At 32, the former Spurs striker has netted an impressive 60 goals for both club and country in 2025.
Remarkably, this tally is still shy of the record for the most goals in a calendar year, currently held by Lionel Messi, who scored 91 goals in 2012.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal has made a significant impact in football, regularly making headlines with his outstanding performances.
He played a crucial role in Spain's victory at Euro 2024 last year and has continued to excel in 2025.
This season, he has scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 14 La Liga matches for Barcelona.
In the first half of the year, he contributed 11 goals and 10 assists for both club and country.
Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain)
Ousmane Dembele had a sensational start to 2025, scoring 15 goals in his first eight matches of the year, finishing the 2024-25 season with 35 goals in 53 appearances—his best scoring season to date.
At 28, his performances earned him his first Ballon d'Or, and although his scoring rate has dipped this term, it has still been a remarkable year for the French forward.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
It takes a bold person not to captain Erling Haaland in their Fantasy Premier League team, as the Manchester City striker, 25, has been exceptional in front of goal this season.
He has scored 25 goals in just 24 appearances this season and was equally prolific for Norway, helping them qualify for their first World Cup since 1998 with 16 goals in eight qualifiers.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
This season has been challenging for Cole Palmer due to injuries limiting his playing time, yet he was the standout performer at this summer's Club World Cup and played a pivotal role for Chelsea last season.
He helped the Blues return to the Champions League, providing two key assists in their Conference League final victory over Real Betis, and was named player of the tournament at the Club World Cup, outshining many of the world's top teams and players.
Palmer, 23, recorded three goals and two assists, leading all players with five goal involvements.
Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain)
Given Paris St-Germain's treble-winning success, their players are expected to feature prominently on this list.
While goals and assists often capture attention, 23-year-old Nuno Mendes has established himself as one of the best left-backs globally, delivering outstanding performances for PSG.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City)
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who moved to Manchester City from PSG this summer, was recently named FIFA's Best Men's Goalkeeper for 2025.
The Italy international was recognized for an outstanding year, winning the Champions League for the first time and three domestic trophies with PSG.
Now 26, he has become a key player for Pep Guardiola's City, who currently sit second in the Premier League and fourth in the Champions League.
Pedri (Barcelona)
Pedri, 23, arguably enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2024-25, helping Barcelona secure the domestic treble and establishing himself as one of the top midfielders in the world.
He led the top five European leagues with 254 recoveries last season and was among the best chance creators, setting up 70 opportunities for his Barcelona teammates.
With injury concerns now behind him, he continues to play a vital role for Barcelona, helping them maintain their position at the top of La Liga, ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappe has had a prolific year in 2025, scoring 59 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old striker has matched Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, set in 2013.
Vitinha (Paris St-Germain)
In a role often overlooked, a defensive midfielder must be exceptional to be considered among the best players in the world, and Vitinha, 25, has certainly proven himself in 2025.
Often compared to the legendary Andres Iniesta, Vitinha showcases remarkable technique and positioning that allow him to dominate matches from the midfield for Paris St-Germain.