PARIS (BN24) — Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, edging out Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal after a season in which he powered PSG to their first-ever Champions League triumph and an unprecedented domestic treble.
The 28-year-old French international scored 35 goals and delivered 16 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions, spearheading a campaign that saw PSG capture Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League. His performances also carried the club to the FIFA Club World Cup final in the United States, where they narrowly lost to Chelsea.
Dembélé, currently sidelined by injury, received the award on Monday night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, presented by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. The accolade is awarded annually by France Football based on votes from international journalists, who weigh individual brilliance, team success, and sportsmanship.
“Thank you all. What just happened to me is incredible,” Dembélé said in his acceptance speech. “It’s been an amazing season with PSG. Receiving this trophy, especially from Ronaldinho, is truly exceptional. From the president to my teammates and coach Luis Enrique, everyone has treated me like family. This award is for all of us.”
With the honor, Dembélé becomes the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or, joining the ranks of Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema. He succeeds last year’s winner, Manchester City’s Rodri.
Dembélé’s career has been marked by highs and setbacks, from his early breakthrough at Rennes and Borussia Dortmund to his world-record move to Barcelona in 2017 for over €100 million. Despite flashes of brilliance, he never fully fulfilled expectations at Barça. His transfer to PSG in 2023 for €50 million, however, transformed his trajectory under coach Luis Enrique, who often deployed him centrally following Kylian Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid.
“I learned so much at Barcelona, playing alongside Messi and Iniesta,” Dembélé added. “But at PSG, I’ve finally found the consistency and responsibility I was looking for. Winning this award is a dream come true.”
While Dembélé took the top honor, Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, 18, emerged as his closest challenger. Yamal was instrumental in Barça’s domestic treble, delivering decisive goals in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Supercopa. Though he fell short of the Ballon d’Or, he received the Kopa Trophy as the world’s best under-21 player.
Other major winners in Paris included:
- Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona/Spain): Claimed her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin, joining Michel Platini and Lionel Messi as the only players in history to win the award three times in a row.
- Vicky López (Barcelona): Won the women’s Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player.
- Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) and Ewa Pajor (Barcelona): Joint winners of the Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorers of the season.
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City/Italy) and Hannah Hampton (Chelsea/England): Named best male and female goalkeepers of the year.
- Luis Enrique (PSG) and Sarina Wiegman (England women’s team): Awarded the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coaches.
The recognition caps a remarkable year for Dembélé, whose leadership and clinical form elevated PSG to new heights and established him as one of the defining players of his generation.
