Paris Saint-Germain and France forward, Ousmane Dembélé has been announced as the winner of the 69th edition of the prestigious Men’s Ballon d’Or which held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris yesterday. The 28 year old was named ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and club mate Vitinha who came in second and third places respectively in the memorable and high emotional night.
Dembélé was the UEFA Champions League Player of the season just as PSG won the title for the first time, and also played a vital role in PSG’s domestic double ending 2024/25 with 37 goals and 15 assists.
Filled with emotions, In his speech Dembélé thanked FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi who taught him so much, “I want to thank FC Barcelona, the club of my dreams. I played with Lionel Messi. I want to thank him too, I learned so much from him.”
“Thank you to everyone who has always supported me throughout this journey,” he added.
Other prizes awarded in the men’s category included the Men’s Kopa Trophy (best young player) won by Lamine Yamal, the Men’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper) which went to Gianluigi Donnarumma, Men’s Johan Cryuff Trophy (best coach in club/national team) won by Luis Enrique, Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in club/national team) won by Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres, and the Men’s Club of the Year which went to Paris Saint-Germain of France.
Meanwhile Barcelona’s Aiyana Bonmati claimed the Ballon d’Or award in the woman category for the third consecutive time. Other winners of various awards includes Vicky López of Spain who won the Women’s Kopa Trophy, Hannah Hampton of Chelsea who won the Women’s Yashin Trophy, Ewa Pajor of Barcelona who won the Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy, Sarina Wiegman who won the Women’s Johan Cryuff Trophy, Arsenal FC of England which claimed the Women’s Club of the Year, and the Sócrates Award went to Fundación Xana of Spain.
Men’s Ballon d’Or top ten
- Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
- Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Mohammed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
- Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
- Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
It was truly a redemption story for Dembélé who went from years of injury woes to showing his true potential and thereby lifting the Ballon d’Or.
The event also featured a tribute to late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva as his family including his wife Rute was in attendance.
It is worthy of note that Cole Palmer, on the night, became the first player to finish in the top 10 without Champions League football since Neymar.
