Ousmane Dembele was honoured as the best player in the world by winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, celebrating a fantastic evening for his team, Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati from Barcelona, who has won many awards, took home the women’s prize on September 22.
Dembele’s Path to the Ballon d’Or
Ousmane Dembélé, a 28-year-old football player from France, has made a name for himself recently. Under the guidance of PSG’s coach Luis Enrique, he developed his skills and helped his team win their very first Champions League title last season. Dembélé is now the sixth French player to receive this prestigious award and is the first since Karim Benzema won it in 2022.
He outperformed Spain and Barcelona player Lamine Yamal, while his PSG teammate Vitinha claimed third place.
Ousmane 🤜🤛 Lamine#ballondor pic.twitter.com/glY4peYy6o
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
An Emotional Thank You from Dembele
“I just had an incredible experience, and I can hardly find the right words to describe it! Winning this trophy is really stressful, and having it presented to me by Ronaldinho, who is a football legend, makes it even more special,” Dembele shared during a ceremony in Paris. He was joined by some of his teammates, while the others were playing a match in Marseille, where they unfortunately lost 1-0 to their rivals, OM.
“I want to express my gratitude to PSG for bringing me on board in 2023. It truly feels like a wonderful family here. The president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has been a supportive figure for me, almost like a father. I also want to thank the amazing staff and the coach, who have treated me exceptionally well — he has also played a fatherly role in my life — along with all my teammates who have made this experience special.”
“We’ve achieved just about everything as a team. You’ve been there for me during the good times and the tough moments. This individual award is something we’ve earned together as a group,” he said, becoming emotional as he expressed his gratitude to his mother, who was with him on stage.
He also talked about his first team, Stade Rennais, and the national team. He promised to win another World Cup next year with coach Didier Deschamps, following their victory in 2018.
PSG’s Dominant Season Recognised
Dembele received an award as part of a successful season for PSG (Paris Saint-Germain). The team won three major trophies last season: the Champions League, the Ligue 1 championship, and the French Cup. They also added another win this year by taking home the UEFA Super Cup.
The French champions were honoured as the best team of the season, and Luis Enrique received the award for best coach. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who recently moved to Manchester City, was celebrated as the top goalkeeper with the special Yashin trophy.
“It’s all thanks to the hard work of everyone at the club,” said PSG President Al-Khelaifi. “We have young players and superstars who all put in effort for the team. This is something we’ve achieved together.”
Bonmati Makes History with Third Win
Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, who was recognised as the best player in the Champions League, has won the women’s Ballon d’Or award for the third consecutive time. Meanwhile, Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch manager of the England women’s team, received the award for women’s coach of the year after successfully guiding her team to victory in the European Championship.
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