Gianluigi Donnarumma, the towering Italian goalkeeper now guarding the net for Manchester City, has been officially named The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper for 2025.
This prestigious accolade, announced during FIFA’s annual awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, on December 16, 2025, recognizes his outstanding performances over the qualifying period from August 2024 to August 2025.
Donnarumma edged out a star-studded field of nominees, including Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez (the defending champion), Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, Arsenal’s David Raya, Inter’s Yann Sommer, and Barcelona’s Wojciech Szczęsny.
The winner was determined through a global voting process involving national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.
The 26-year-old’s triumph caps an extraordinary year. While still at Paris Saint-Germain, he played a pivotal role in their dominant 2024-25 season, keeping a clean sheet in the UEFA Champions League final as PSG thrashed Inter 5-0 to claim their first European crown.
He also contributed to domestic successes in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, before helping PSG reach the FIFA Club World Cup final.
After transferring to Manchester City in the summer, Donnarumma has continued his fine form, helping Pep Guardiola’s side challenge at the top of the Premier League and in Europe.
This is Donnarumma’s first FIFA Best Goalkeeper award, making him the second Italian to win it after Gianluigi Buffon in the inaugural year of 2017. It adds to his already impressive 2025 haul, which includes the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony and selection in the FIFPRO Men’s World XI.
Reacting to the honor, Donnarumma expressed profound gratitude: “It is a great honour to win this prestigious award and I would like to thank everybody who voted for me. 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.”
The award underscores Donnarumma’s status as one of the premier goalkeepers of his generation, blending remarkable shot-stopping, command of his area, and composure under pressure.