Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker, was awarded the Ballon d’Or 2025 by France Football and UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) at a ceremony held at the Chatelet theater in Paris, France, on Monday, September 22.
Dembélé preceded Spanish international Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s young striker, and his teammate Vitinha in the ranking of the award. Completing the top five were Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Raphinha, who also plays for FC Barcelona.
Dembélé shines with PSG and succeeds Rodri
The 28-year-old Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé shone brightly and played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) great season last year.
This was by making a decisive contribution to winning Ligue 1 and the French Cup as well as the Champions League and the European Super Cup.
The player from Vernon, a former Barcelona player, replaces Spanish midfielder Rodri Hernández, who plays for Manchester City in England, as the winner of the award.
In addition, he is the first Frenchman to win this award since it went to Karim Benzema.
Then a Real Madrid striker and currently at Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Gives the Ballon d’Or ‘back’ to France
PSG attacker Dembélé is the sixth player from his country to win the Ballon d’Or.
This follows Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984 and 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991), Zinedine Zidane (1998) and Karim Benzema (2022).
This recognition confirms the evolution of Ousmane Dembélé, who overcame seasons marked by injuries to establish himself as a leader at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and a benchmark in French soccer.
His triumph also represents a reward for effort and perseverance, placing him as a natural heir to the Gallic tradition of stars who marked an entire era in world football.
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