Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or at a ceremony held on September 22, 2025, in Paris. Dembélé topped the vote of 100 international journalists, edging out Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Vitinha.
The 28-year-old had the best season of his career in 2024-2025, playing a pivotal role in PSG’s historic run where they secured a domestic treble winning Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions and, notably, the UEFA Champions League title.
Dembélé scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists across all competitions. His performances in the Champions League stood out, earning him the Player of the Season award for the tournament, including decisive goals against Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and in the final against Inter Milan.
This Ballon d’Or makes Dembélé the sixth Frenchman to win the award, joining the ranks of football legends like Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Zinédine Zidane, and Karim Benzema. He fulfilled a childhood dream, calling the trophy “the Holy Grail” for any football player.
Dembélé’s journey from long injury spells and inconsistency to this remarkable pinnacle is seen as a story of persistence and talent finally being fully realized.