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Paris St-Germain forward, Ousmane Dembele, claimed his first Ballon d’Or as the French treble winners dominated the men’s awards at the Paris ceremony.
The 28-year-old France international scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists in 53 appearances last season, helping PSG secure the Champions League, Ligue 1 title and the French Cup.
According to the BBC, Dembele finished as joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals and was named both Ligue 1 and Champions League player of the year.
He also played a key role in guiding PSG to the Club World Cup final, where they lost to Chelsea in New Jersey.
The forward, who beat Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal to the award, was visibly emotional as he received the trophy on stage despite PSG playing on Monday night.
He is currently sidelined with injury and missed his team’s 1-0 defeat to Marseille in a rescheduled league fixture.
“What I have just experienced is exceptional, I have no words for it, what happened with PSG,” said Dembele, whose mother joined him on stage.
“I feel a bit of stress, it’s not easy to win this trophy, and to have it presented to me by Ronaldinho, a legend of football, is exceptional.
“I want to thank PSG who came to get me in 2023. It’s an incredible family. The president Nasser [Al-Khelaifi] is like a father to me. I also want to thank all the staff and the coach, who have been exceptional with me – he too is like a father – and all my team-mates.
“We have practically won everything together. You supported me in the good and the difficult times. This individual trophy is one the team has won collectively.”
The award caps a remarkable career revival for Dembele, who had not reached double figures in a league season since his teenage years at Rennes.
A tactical change by PSG manager Luis Enrique, who was also named coach of the year, proved pivotal.
After moving Dembele from the right wing into a central role against Lyon on 15 December, he went on to score 30 more goals, finishing the season in explosive form.
Dembele has finally delivered on the potential that once persuaded Barcelona to pay up to £135.5m for him in 2017. PSG, however, secured him for just £43.5m in 2023 — a move now seen as a bargain.
He also netted twice in seven appearances for France during the 2024-25 season. His triumph makes him the sixth Frenchman, and only the second in the 21st century after Karim Benzema in 2022, to lift the prestigious trophy.
Yamal, 18, finished second but collected the Kopa Trophy for best young player. PSG teammates Vitinha (third), Achraf Hakimi (sixth), Gianluigi Donnarumma (ninth) and Nuno Mendes (10th) also finished in the top 10.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was fourth, Chelsea and England’s Cole Palmer eighth, while last year’s winner, Manchester City midfielder Rodri, failed to make the shortlist after an injury-hit season.
PSG were also named Team of the Year at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Image courtesy of GITTY Images
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