Hakimi Backs Mbappé Over Dembélé in The Best 2025 Voting: A Surprising Twist
16 December 2025
Surprise Twist in The Best 2025 Voting
Morocco's captain did not cast his vote for his Paris teammate.
FIFA has revealed the votes of national-team captains and coaches for The Best 2025, and the result came with a surprising twist.
French winger Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain won The Best 2025, in a ceremony held tonight in Qatar.
Yet his teammate, Morocco's captain Achraf Hakimi, wasn't the favorite.
Hakimi placed his close friend Kylian Mbappé first, Dembélé second, and Rafinha third.
Hakimi and Mbappé have shared a strong friendship since their Paris Saint-Germain days, continuing despite Mbappé's move to Real Madrid.
Punchline: In football politics, votes are as unpredictable as my coffee order.
Punchline 2: The trophy's not safe—shade is the new bronze.