Hot SourceParis Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has claimed football’s most prestigious individual honour, the 2025 Ballon d’Or, after a season that combined silverware with dazzling individual performances.
The French winger, 28, edged a competitive field to secure the award following a remarkable 2024–25 campaign in which he helped PSG lift a historic first UEFA Champions League title, alongside victories in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
Dembélé’s blend of pace, close control and decisive finishing proved decisive for club and country, earning widespread acclaim and finally delivering on the promise that has followed him since his teenage years. His form placed him ahead of Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who finished runner-up, and a host of other established stars.
The women’s prize, the Ballon d’Or Féminin, went to Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who continued her dominance of the women’s game with another commanding year for club and country.
For PSG, Dembélé’s triumph represents a symbolic moment. After years of near-misses on Europe’s biggest stage, the Paris club’s Champions League breakthrough was crowned by one of their own finally taking world football’s top individual award.
French fans have hailed the win as a reminder of the country’s enduring talent pipeline, while analysts point to Dembélé’s perseverance through injuries and early-career inconsistency as proof of his growth.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or gala, held in Paris, underscored a season in which Dembélé’s artistry and resilience defined both PSG’s campaign and France’s standing in the global game—an achievement now etched in football history.
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