Doha, 17 December (H.S.):

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France forward Ousmane Dembélé has been named the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year, while Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí claimed the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

The 28-year-old Dembélé played a pivotal role in leading PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, marking a historic milestone for the French club. In the final, PSG crushed Inter Milan 5–0, with Dembélé delivering an outstanding performance. Over the past season, he netted 35 goals across all competitions, including 21 goals in Ligue 1, which made him the league’s top scorer.

On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí’s dominance on the pitch continued unabated. She not only secured the Champions League Player of the Season title but also clinched her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin, underlining her status as one of the greatest midfielders of her generation.

Under her leadership, Barcelona completed a domestic treble and Spain reached the Champions League and Euro 2025 finals, showcasing Bonmatí’s exceptional influence at both club and international levels.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar