Photo Credit: Zegna/Instagram
Ousmane Dembélé, the Paris Saint-Germain striker, has clinched the coveted 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, the highest individual accolade in football. The 28-year-old French international was honored at a ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, 22 September, hosted by France Football.
Throughout the 2024/25 campaign, Dembélé was instrumental in PSG’s triumphant run, netting 35 goals and assisting 14 times across 53 appearances. His outstanding contributions propelled the team to secure a remarkable domestic treble, capturing the Ligue 1 championship, the French Cup, and the UEFA Champions League title. Additionally, he featured prominently in the Club World Cup final, where PSG narrowly lost to Chelsea.
His stellar individual displays earned him both the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and the Champions League Player of the Year honors. Dembélé also shared the Ligue 1 top scorer title with 21 goals. In the Ballon d’Or rankings, he surpassed Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal, who finished second, and PSG’s own Vitinha, who took third place.
Born in France to a Malian father and a mother with Mauritanian and Senegalese heritage, Dembélé was visibly moved as he accepted the award on stage, accompanied by his mother during this heartfelt moment. He expressed deep gratitude towards PSG, his teammates, and the club’s staff for their unwavering support. “This experience is beyond words… truly extraordinary,” he remarked.
He admitted feeling a mix of nerves and pride, emphasizing the significance of receiving the trophy from football legend Ronaldinho. “Winning this award is no small feat, and having it presented by Ronaldinho makes it even more special,” Dembélé added.
Moreover, he highlighted that the honor reflects not only his personal achievements but also the collective success of his team throughout the season.
Other distinguished awards presented during the event included the Men’s Kopa Trophy, which went to Lamine Yamal; the Men’s Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, awarded to Gianluigi Donnarumma; the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for the best coach, given to Luis Enrique; and the Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy, claimed by Viktor Gyökeres.
Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or victory also shines a spotlight on his West African roots, celebrating his Malian paternal lineage and his mother’s Mauritanian and Senegalese background, despite his upbringing in France.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or caps off an extraordinary season for both Dembélé and PSG, marking a year in which the French club dominated on both domestic and European fronts.
OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ IS THE 2025 MEN’S BALLON D’OR!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/xLSvNVEh51
– Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
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