Ousmane Dembélé Wins 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or After Historic Season With PSG

Ousmane Dembélé has been named the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner, capping off a remarkable year for both himself and Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward was honored during the award ceremony on 22 September 2025, where his achievements across club and international football earned him the sport’s most prestigious individual prize.

Dembélé finished ahead of Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, who secured second place, while PSG teammate Vitinha completed the podium in third. The recognition comes on the back of Dembélé’s pivotal role in PSG’s most successful season to date.

During the 2024-25 campaign, Dembélé helped PSG secure their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, ending years of near misses in Europe’s top competition. His contributions also powered the club to domestic triumphs, completing a historic treble with Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

The evening also celebrated other standout performers across world football. Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí collected the Women’s Ballon d’Or, adding another accolade to her growing list of achievements. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for best young player, while PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the Yashin Trophy as best goalkeeper. Luis Enrique, PSG’s head coach, received the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach of the year, and Viktor Gyökeres was awarded the Gerd Müller Trophy as Europe’s top scorer. Paris Saint-Germain itself was named Club of the Year, further underlining its dominance during the season.

Dembélé’s victory marks a new chapter in the Ballon d’Or’s history, as he succeeds a long line of winners that includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Karim Benzema. His award represents both a personal milestone and a symbol of PSG’s rise to the top of European football.

Sources: UEFA, Reuters