In a historic night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, capping off a remarkable season that saw him lead Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. The French forward, a player once plagued by injuries and inconsistency, ascended to the pinnacle of world football, winning the sport’s most prestigious individual award ahead of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and his PSG teammate Vitinha.
The award ceremony, held on Monday evening, took place as PSG’s squad was in the midst of a rescheduled match against Marseille. The clash, known as Le Classique, was postponed due to security concerns, meaning the majority of Dembélé’s teammates and his coach, Luis Enrique, were unable to attend. However, Dembélé, who was sidelined with a minor injury, was present to receive the trophy from Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. The moment was especially poignant, highlighting Dembélé’s personal journey back to the top of his game.
Dembélé’s victory is a testament to his phenomenal performance during the 2024-2025 campaign. He scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists across all competitions, playing a pivotal role in PSG’s unprecedented quadruple. After being repositioned as a number nine by coach Luis Enrique, Dembélé became a prolific goal-scorer, with his most influential performances coming in the Champions League. His eight goals in the competition, including crucial strikes against top opponents, earned him the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season award. His relentless pressing and attacking prowess were instrumental in PSG’s stunning 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final.
On stage, a visibly emotional Dembélé gave a heartfelt speech, thanking his teammates and the club for their support. He acknowledged his time at Barcelona, calling it “the club of my dreams,” and thanked Lionel Messi for the lessons he learned playing alongside him. The emotional scene underlined the collective effort behind his individual success. His win makes him the sixth French player to claim the award, solidifying France’s position with the most unique winners of the Ballon d’Or. While the award now belongs to Dembélé, the story of his incredible comeback season and his journey from a talented but unfulfilled talent to the world’s best player is what will truly define his win.
Beyond the main award, the night also saw Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí win her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin, while Lamine Yamal did not go home empty-handed, taking home the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best young player for the second year in a row.
