Paris, France – Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, cementing his place among football’s elite after a career-best season that powered PSG to an unprecedented treble.
The 28-year-old French international scored 35 goals and registered 14 assists in 53 appearances last season, helping PSG secure the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.
Dembélé finished as joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals and was also named Player of the Season in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League. His exploits carried PSG to the Club World Cup final in New Jersey, where they narrowly lost to Chelsea.
A Career Revival
The victory marks a dramatic turnaround for Dembélé, whose career was once overshadowed by injuries and inconsistency. Until last season, he had not scored double figures in a league campaign since his teenage breakthrough at Rennes.
The transformation came under PSG manager Luis Enrique, who was named Coach of the Year. A tactical switch in December 2024, moving Dembélé from the right wing into a central striker role, sparked his resurgence. From that point, he scored 30 goals in just five months.
Dembélé, visibly emotional as he received the award at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, paid tribute to his teammates and coaching staff. His presence at the ceremony was notable, given PSG were playing against Marseille the same night—a match he missed due to injury.
PSG’s Dominance at the Awards
The Ballon d’Or podium underscored PSG’s dominance in European football:
- Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s 18-year-old sensation, finished second and collected the Kopa Trophy for best young player.
- Vitinha, PSG’s Portuguese midfielder, placed third.
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah came in fourth.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí secured a record third Women’s Ballon d’Or, continuing her reign as one of the sport’s greatest.
French Football History
Dembélé becomes the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or and only the second in the 21st century, following Karim Benzema’s triumph in 2022.
PSG’s recruitment strategy was also vindicated. The club signed Dembélé from Barcelona in 2023 for just £43.5 million, a fee that now looks like a bargain compared to the £135.5 million Barcelona once paid Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
With two goals in seven appearances for France during the 2024–25 season, Dembélé also reaffirmed his value to the national team ahead of next summer’s European Championships.
Source – My News Ghana
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