On December 16, 2025, Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper for 2025 during the annual FIFA Football Awards ceremony held at Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha, Qatar. The 26-year-old Italian international claimed the prestigious accolade for the first time, recognizing his outstanding performances during the evaluation period from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025.
Donnarumma, who joined Manchester City from Paris Saint-Germain in a £26 million transfer in September 2025 following the departure of Ederson to Fenerbahçe, edged out a strong field of nominees. He surpassed Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois, Aston Villa's Emiliano Martínez (the 2024 winner), Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer, Arsenal's David Raya, Inter Milan's Yann Sommer, and Barcelona's Wojciech Szczęsny.
The award highlights Donnarumma's pivotal role in PSG's historic 2024-25 season, where the French club achieved a domestic treble—winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions—before capping it with their maiden UEFA Champions League title. In the Champions League final on May 31, 2025, against Inter Milan in Munich, Donnarumma kept a clean sheet in a dominant 5-0 victory, making crucial interventions throughout the knockout stages against teams like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal.
This FIFA honor adds to an already remarkable individual haul for Donnarumma in 2025. He previously won the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in September and was selected for the 2025 FIFPRO Men's World 11 in November. His consistent excellence, including decisive penalty saves and commanding presence, solidified his reputation as one of the world's elite goalkeepers.
Reacting to the award, Donnarumma expressed profound gratitude: "I feel extremely proud to have been named as the best in the world and ahead of such wonderful goalkeepers too, who I have great respect and admiration for. It was an incredible year, one that will live long in my memory, and it's touching to be recognised for my role in the success achieved over that period. I will truly appreciate this acknowledgement and look ahead now to achieving more success with my new club Manchester City."
The selection process involved a global jury comprising national team coaches, captains, specialist journalists, and public votes cast via FIFA's official website. Nominees were initially shortlisted by a panel of experts, ensuring a democratic and comprehensive evaluation.
Donnarumma's triumph marks him as the second Italian to win the award since its inception in 2017, following Gianluigi Buffon's victory in the inaugural year. It also underscores a successful transition to the Premier League, where he has quickly established himself as Manchester City's first-choice goalkeeper under Pep Guardiola.
The ceremony in Doha also saw Chelsea's Hannah Hampton named The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper 2025, recognizing her contributions to club and country, including England's Euro 2025 success.
This latest accolade validates Manchester City's decision to acquire Donnarumma, who has brought proven winning pedigree to the Etihad Stadium. As the Italian looks forward, his focus shifts to replicating club success with the Citizens, potentially adding Premier League and further European silverware to his collection.
Donnarumma's journey from AC Milan prodigy to Euro 2020 hero—where he was named Player of the Tournament—and now a FIFA-recognized world best, exemplifies his growth into a modern goalkeeping icon known for shot-stopping prowess, penalty expertise, and composure under pressure.
