Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the 2025 Ballon d`Or winner, marking a triumphant resurgence for the 28-year-old French forward and etching his name into football history as Paris Saint-Germain`s second recipient of the prestigious award.
The announcement, made at a glittering ceremony in Paris on September 22, saw Dembele edge out Barcelona`s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who finished second, and an unnamed contender in third place.
This victory makes Dembele the sixth Frenchman to claim the honor, following in the footsteps of Karim Benzema (2022), Zinedine Zidane (1998), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991), Michel Platini (1983-85), and Raymond Kopa (1958).
Dembele`s path to glory was anything but straightforward. After a record €148 million transfer to Barcelona at age 20 in 2017, injuries and inconsistency plagued his time at the Camp Nou, leading some to question his elite potential. However, his return to Ligue 1 with PSG in 2023 proved transformative. Under manager Luis Enrique, Dembele exploded in the 2024/25 season, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists across all competitions—his career-high output.
A tactical shift to central forward midway through the campaign unlocked his full prowess. Dembele formed a devastating attacking trident with January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and rising star Désiré Doué (who placed 14th in the voting), propelling PSG to a historic treble: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. His 51 goal contributions (goals + assists) ranked him fourth among top-five European leagues, behind only Raphinha (59), Mohamed Salah (57), and Harry Kane (55).
"Dembele`s season was nothing short of sensational," Enrique said post-win. "Opponents couldn`t contain him in Ligue 1 or the Champions League. He`s the architect of our success."
The winger`s market value surged €30 million to €90 million, reflecting his renewed status as a global superstar. At 28, Dembele joins an elite club, becoming only the second PSG Ballon d`Or winner after Lionel Messi`s 2023 triumph.
As PSG sits second in Ligue 1 with a €1.07 billion squad under Enrique (contract until 2027), Dembele`s win signals a new era for the Parisians. For France`s €1.31 billion national team, it`s a boost ahead of upcoming internationals.
Dembele`s journey from Barcelona doubts to Ballon d`Or glory underscores resilience in football`s unforgiving spotlight.
