Ousmane Dembélé has etched his name into football history, winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday evening. The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star edged out Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal, to claim football’s most prestigious individual award, capping off the finest season of his career.
For Dembélé, the honor marks the pinnacle of a remarkable journey, a player once hampered by injuries and inconsistency at Barcelona, now reborn as the driving force behind PSG’s greatest triumphs.
The Frenchman was in unstoppable form throughout the 2024/25 season, producing 51 goal involvements in 59 matches across all competitions. His brilliance did not go unnoticed. Dembélé scooped several major individual honors along the way, including Ligue 1 Player of the Season, Ligue 1 Golden Boot, and UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.
But beyond the numbers, it was his decisive performances on the biggest stages that truly set him apart. Dembélé played a starring role in guiding PSG to their first-ever Champions League crown, an achievement that finally ended the club’s long wait for European glory. His influence was equally vital as PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and French Super Cup, completing a historic treble.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony, held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, was attended by football royalty from around the globe. When Dembélé’s name was announced, it was not just a personal victory but also a defining moment in PSG’s rise to the summit of world football.
For Dembélé, this award symbolizes more than silverware; it is the crowning moment of a comeback story that has inspired fans worldwide. Once doubted, the French winger now stands tall as the best player in the world.
