Football Awards 2025 – Who Took Home the Trophies?
If you love the drama of the beautiful game, the awards season is the perfect excuse to geek out. From the Oscars of soccer to the local league honors, every trophy tells a story about performance, popularity and the future of the sport. Below you’ll get a quick rundown of the most talked‑about awards this year, plus a special focus on what’s happening in African football.
Top International Awards
The big names – Ballon d’Or, FIFA The Best and UEFA Player of the Year – kept the spotlight on a handful of superstars. The 2025 Ballon d’Or finally slipped from its long‑standing holder to a young forward who scored 30 league goals and helped his team win the Champions League. The winner’s mix of club success and a World Cup knockout‑stage heroics gave voters the perfect excuse to break the streak.
Meanwhile, FIFA’s The Best award rewarded a goalkeeper who posted 20 clean sheets in a single season, a rare nod to defensive excellence. Fans had been arguing for a keeper for years, and the vote finally reflected the data: the most saves per match in Europe’s top five leagues.
UEFA’s Player of the Year went to a midfielder who orchestrated his side’s run to three consecutive domestic titles. The decision sparked debate because the player missed the World Cup due to injury, but the award committee said his impact on club football outweighed the missed international stage.
Spotlight on African Football Awards
African football had its own blockbuster night. The CAF African Player of the Year was clinched by a striker from the South African Premier Division who finished the season with 25 goals and led his national team to the AFCON final. His story resonated with fans who love a homegrown hero making it big on the continent.
The Rising Star award highlighted a 19‑year‑old winger from Kenya who broke the record for most assists in a single league season. Sponsors are already lining up deals for him, and the award is expected to fast‑track his move to a European club.
Women’s football also shone bright. The CAF Women’s Player of the Year went to a midfielder from Nigeria who captained her side to back‑to‑back league titles and was instrumental in the national team’s World Cup qualification. Her leadership on and off the pitch earned her a spot on the continental ambassador panel.
Don’t forget the club awards. The best African club was decided after a thrilling final that saw a North African side beat a West African giant on penalties. The victory meant a hefty boost in prize money and permission to play in the FIFA Club World Cup, giving the squad a stage to showcase African talent globally.
So why do these awards matter? For fans, they’re a chance to celebrate the moments that defined the season. For players, a trophy can raise market value, draw interest from bigger clubs, and even secure better contract terms. For the continent, the awards spotlight African excellence, encouraging investment and inspiring the next generation of ballers.
Whether you’re tracking the global stars or cheering for the homegrown heroes, the 2025 football awards season gave plenty of talking points. Keep an eye on the upcoming nomination lists for next year – the story is just getting started.
