4 Arab Athletes Vying for Global Superstar Title
Sara KhaledFIFA announced its final nominees for "The Best 2025" awards, with several Arab players making the cut. Egyptian star Mohamed Salah from Liverpool leads the Arab representation, joined by Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari from Al-Hilal, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, also at Al-Hilal.
The player of the year category features some big names from European football. Barcelona's young talents Lamine Yamal and Pedri made the list, along with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé. Spanish clubs dominate the nominations - Barcelona also has Brazilian forward Raphinha in contention.
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé earned his spot after winning the Ballon d'Or in September, beating out Yamal and his Portuguese teammate Vitinha, who's also nominated for FIFA's award. The French forward's stellar season put him ahead of some serious competition.
The remaining nominees include Portuguese defender Nuno Mendes from PSG, England's Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, and Chelsea's Cole Palmer. It's a mix of established stars and rising talents.
**Goalkeeper Competition Heats Up**
Arsenal's David Raya leads the goalkeeper nominees alongside some familiar faces. Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Barcelona's Wojciech Szczesny represent La Liga, while Liverpool's Alisson Becker brings Premier League credentials.
Aston Villa's Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez adds South American flair to the competition. PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bayern's Manuel Neuer, and Inter Milan's Yann Sommer round out a strong field of shot-stoppers.
**Coaching Honors**
The coaching category showcases tactical minds from across Europe. Luis Enrique Martinez, who guided PSG to Champions League success, faces competition from Barcelona's Hansi Flick and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta.
Portugal national team coach Roberto Martinez made the cut, along with Liverpool's Arne Slot and Chelsea's Enzo Maresca. Mexico's Javier Aguirre earned recognition for leading El Tri to CONCACAF Gold Cup glory.
**Fan Recognition**
FIFA's fan award takes a touching turn with the posthumous nomination of Manolo El Del Bombo, Spain's legendary supporter who traveled the world for decades following his national team. Iraqi club Zakho's passionate fanbase also received recognition.
Argentina's Alejandro Seganoto completed the fan nominees after his remarkable journey - he walked from Argentina to Rio de Janeiro to watch Racing Club face Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores semifinal. That's dedication that goes beyond ordinary support.
The awards highlight football's global reach, from Arab stars competing at the highest level to fans showing extraordinary commitment to their teams.
