France international Ousmane Dembele has won the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or, beating Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the award on Monday night in Paris.
Dembele, 28, claimed the honour after a spectacular season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he scored 39 goals and provided 14 assists in 61 appearances across all competitions. His brilliance was pivotal as Luis Enrique’s men lifted the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1 title, French Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
The former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund winger also scooped several individual accolades, including Ligue 1 Player of the Season, Champions League Player of the Season, and the Ligue 1 Golden Boot.
Yamal, who finished second, enjoyed a breakout campaign with Barcelona, recording 19 goals and 24 assists in 65 matches while helping the Catalan giants to a La Liga and Copa del Rey double. However, his failure to win either the Champions League or the UEFA Nations League ultimately dented his chances of landing the award.
Other players in the top five included PSG’s Vitinha (third), Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (fourth), and Barcelona’s Raphinha (fifth).
Unlike last year’s heated debate between Rodri and Vinicius Junior, this year’s result sparked little controversy. In 2024, Rodri controversially edged Vinicius to the Ballon d’Or, prompting Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Dembele’s triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, confirming his rise as one of football’s elite after years of battling injuries and inconsistency.
