In conclusion of a spectacular football season, Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain has won the Ballon d’Or, making him a member of the elite in the world of football. This landmark moment saw the 28-year-old French international declared as the the best player in the world for 2025, due to his outstanding performance in PSG’s treble-winning season and never-before-seen innovative style that delighted both fans and pundits alike.
The Journey to Glory
The road to the Ballon d’Or was not a natural one for Dembélé. Born in Vernon, France, Dembélé emerged as a prodigy in Rennes before a move to Borussia Dortmund solidified him on the global stage. A record (to that point) €100 million move to Barcelona beckoned in 2017 alongside scrutiny and injury setbacks, but it was in Dembélé’s recent years at PSG that fans witnessed the totality of his pedigree.
Ousmane Dembélé‘s arrival at PSG took place in 2023 when he faced a number of challenges, particularly doubts over his consistency and fitness. Under Luis Enrique and a supportive PSG organization, the winger finally provided the performance his career where he was built into something more. As former Barcelona coach Xavi once said of Dembélé, “He has everything… if you are able to use him well, he can take that step to be the number one player in the world.”
A season for the ages
Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or on the back of one of the most dominant individual seasons of any player in memory:
- Goals and assists: Dembélé scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 games in all competitions, including 21 goals in Ligue 1, while playing a key role in the Coupe de France and Champions League.
- Stardom in the Champions League: Dembélé scored eight goals and provided six assists in his performances in the Champions League, helping guide PSG to their first title in the competition, scoring in both the semi-finals against Manchester City as well as in the final against Inter Milan and both quarter-final matches against Liverpool and Arsenal.
- Domestic dominance: Dembélé and PSG did the unthinkable by winning the quadruple of Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Champions League, as well as advancing to the final of the Club World Cup. Dembélé’s pressing work, defensive work, and creative, dazzling runs to defeat defenses radically changed the attacking pattern of PSG for their English midfield core.
- Player of the Season: UEFA named him player of the season in the Champions League, and France Football highlighted his class, impact on games and fair play on the pitch as a few of the reasons for earning the award.
Triumph Over Adversity
The Ballon d’Or was awarded at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where Dembélé was emotional on stage with his mother, to a packed house, including Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho. “Winning a trophy like this is something incredible,” said Dembélé. “I worked hard for my team to win PSG’s first Champions League. To win a trophy for yourself, like the Ballon d’Or, is something special.”
His achievement is even more incredible given the struggles he endured in past seasons: injuries, disciplinary issues, questions about his ambition, and being switched from winger to striker. When Enrique decided to play Dembélé centrally, he took his game to a new level alongside Désir Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, forming a devastating trio on the attack.
Challengers and Rankings
Dembélé beat 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who scored second in the Kopa Trophy after an amazing season with a Copa del Rey title and second consecutive Kopa Trophy as best young player. The complete top ten for the Ballon d’Or men’s rankings were:
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| 3 | Vitinha | PSG |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| 5 | Raphinha | Barcelona |
| 6 | Achraf Hakimi | PSG |
| 7 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid |
| 8 | Cole Palmer | Chelsea |
| 9 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | PSG |
| 10 | Nuno Mendes | PSG |
Notably, Dembélé has become the sixth Frenchman to claim the Ballon d’Or alongside legends like Platini, Zidane, Benzema, Papin, and Kopa.
Why Dembélé Won
Dembélé’s justification looks as if it breaks down to a combination of personal excellence and collective success:
- Versatility: He fluidly transitioned from playing as a winger to becoming a central (“9”) striker.
- Big Game Mentality: He was at his best in the Champions League during the knockout stages.
- Work Rate: He displayed defensive contribution and non-stop pressing as an extension of his attacking prowess.
- Leadership: He demonstrated experience and maturity over six years at Barcelona to become the inspiration for PSG’s young squad.
- Fair Play and Character: The Ballon d’Or voting from France Football highlighted that voting was not just based on performance but about respect, humility, and sportsmanship.
Legacy and Impact
Dembélé winning the Ballon d’Or enhances his legacy, elevating him from the status of an enigma to an inspiring figure for the next generation of talent to emulate. While he has matured as a player through sustained effort, adaptability, and a mentality of always striving to improve, Dembélé mirrored that on his way to this Ballon d’Or and will likely do the same for youth in France and around the world.
“Winning a Ballon d’Or is the Holy Grail individually,” Dembélé shared months before the award. “You dream of it when you are little. You see the ball, it’s exceptional.”
What’s Next for Dembélé and PSG?
Next, for Dembélé, the challenge will be to maintain this top-level performance level. He comes off the Ballon d’Or and leads PSG in the Club World Cup, Euro 2026 qualifiers with France, and defending both PSG’s Champions League and domestic titles which will define the next chapter of Dembélé’s reign as Ballon d’Or recipient. For PSG, the balance of retaining this winning squad and building their global stature as a result of Dembélé’s win will define European football’s power structure in the process for years to come.
Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or because of his combination of dazzling skill, essential leadership, and ferocious determination through a historic season. Ultimately, it is an honor of resilience, evolution, and the magic that happens to raw talent when it combines with trust and hard work. Paris is celebrating a hero, but the story of his ascendency will inspire footballers and fans for years and generations to come.