Gianluigi Donnarumma has been crowned the 2025 FIFA The Best Men’s Goalkeeper, earning the prestigious accolade for the first time in his professional career.
The award was announced by FIFA on Tuesday, following the Italian shot-stopper’s exceptional performances during a highly successful season with his former side, Paris Saint-Germain.
Donnarumma was instrumental in PSG’s UEFA Champions League victory, producing a dominant display in the final against Internazionale, where he kept a clean sheet in a resounding 5–0 win on May 31, 2025. His consistency and authority between the posts were evident throughout the knockout rounds of the competition.
At domestic level, the 26-year-old also played a vital role as PSG lifted the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, completing a remarkable treble.
He further featured prominently in the team that finished as runners-up at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, underlining his influence across competitions during the assessment period.
Now with Premier League side Manchester City, Donnarumma emerged ahead of other top contenders including Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martínez, Manuel Neuer, David Raya, Yann Sommer and Wojciech Szczęsny.
His achievements during the evaluation window included winning the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, securing domestic silverware in France, finishing second at the FIFA Club World Cup, and being named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.
The award was decided from a shortlist prepared by a panel of experts, based on performances between August 11, 2024, and August 2, 2025.
Voting was conducted by men’s national team coaches, captains, football journalists and fans via FIFA’s official website, with each group contributing 25 percent to the final outcome.
Nominees were awarded points for first, second and third-place votes, with the highest overall tally determining the winner. In cases of a tie, the number of first-choice votes from national team captains served as the decider.
Donnarumma had previously finished as runner-up for the FIFA THE BEST GOALKEEPER award in 2021.
Beyond this honour, he has also enjoyed individual success, having won the Yashin Trophy twice, in 2021 and again in 2025.
What you should know
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s rise to global recognition reflects years of elite-level consistency and resilience.
From breaking through at a young age to becoming a Champions League winner, the Italian goalkeeper has steadily built a reputation as one of the most reliable players in his position. His 2025 FIFA The Best Men’s Goalkeeper award validates a season marked by composure, leadership and decisive performances on the biggest stages.
The recognition also places him firmly among the modern greats, especially as he continues his career at Manchester City, where expectations remain high.
