Dembélé Crowned 2025 Ballon d’Or Winner After Stellar Season With PSG

Dembélé Crowned 2025 Ballon d’Or Winner After Stellar Season With PSG

Ousmane Dembé’s long and often turbulent journey in football has reached its peak. The Paris Saint-Germain and France forward was crowned the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner on Monday night in Paris, sealing his status as the world’s best player after years of battling injuries and doubts.

At 28, Dembélé becomes the sixth Frenchman to claim football’s most prestigious individual honour, following in the footsteps of Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini (three-time winner), Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema.

His triumph comes on the back of a historic campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, where he played a decisive role in their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. Dembélé racked up over 30 goals and 15 assists across all competitions, consistently producing match-winning displays, including a dazzling performance in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

In the final voting, Dembélé edged Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who finished second, and PSG teammate Vitinha, who came third. He is also the first PSG player to win the award since Lionel Messi in 2023.

Visibly emotional during his acceptance speech, Dembélé dedicated the award to his family, the club’s medical staff, and fans who supported him throughout his injury-plagued years.

 “There were times I doubted if I could return to this level,” he admitted. “But I never gave up. This award proves that hard work and faith can turn dreams into reality.”

For PSG, the accolade underscores their rise as a dominant force in European football. For Dembélé, it marks redemption — a career once defined by setbacks now celebrated for greatness.