Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
French forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or after a phenomenal season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), marking the first time he has claimed football’s most coveted individual prize. The 28-year-old was recognized during the ceremony in Paris, where PSG players and staff dominated the awards following a historic treble-winning campaign.
A Career-Defining Season
Dembélé enjoyed the best year of his professional career in 2024/25. He scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists across 53 appearances as PSG swept the board by winning the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup. His impact was not only domestic; he was also a driving force behind PSG’s run to the Club World Cup final, where they fell narrowly to Chelsea.
In Ligue 1, Dembélé finished as joint top scorer with 21 goals, while also earning recognition as both the league’s best player and the Champions League Player of the Year. His versatility and clinical finishing came to the fore after manager Luis Enrique repositioned him from the right wing to a central striking role midway through the season. From that tactical adjustment in December, Dembélé scored an astonishing 30 goals to propel PSG to silverware.
An Emotional Triumph
Dembélé was visibly moved as he collected the trophy, which was presented to him by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. Despite PSG having a league fixture the same evening, he was able to attend the ceremony, standing alongside his mother as he delivered a heartfelt speech.
“This is a dream come true,” said an emotional Dembélé. “PSG welcomed me in 2023 like family, and together we achieved incredible things. This award may have my name on it, but it belongs to the entire team.”
His victory represents a remarkable turnaround for a player whose early years at Barcelona were hampered by injuries and inconsistency. PSG secured his services for £43.5 million in 2023, a fee now considered a bargain given his resurgence.
PSG’s Night of Glory
The Ballon d’Or gala reinforced PSG’s dominance in world football. The club was named Team of the Year, while coach Luis Enrique collected the Coach of the Year award. Several PSG players also ranked among the world’s best: Vitinha (3rd), Achraf Hakimi (6th), Gianluigi Donnarumma (9th), and Nuno Mendes (10th).
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah finished fourth, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer secured eighth place, while Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who pushed Dembélé closest in the voting, won the Kopa Trophy for Best Young Player.
A French Legacy
Dembélé becomes only the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or and the second of the 21st century, following Karim Benzema’s triumph in 2022. His rise not only restores his status as one of Europe’s elite attackers but also adds another proud chapter to France’s footballing heritage.