Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has etched his name into football history by winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time, capping off a remarkable season that saw him lead PSG to an unprecedented quadruple, including their long-awaited Champions League triumph.

The ceremony, held in Paris, celebrated Dembele’s outstanding campaign, in which he scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists. His decisive strikes at Anfield and The Emirates during the Champions League knockout rounds, along with two crucial assists in the final, proved instrumental in delivering Europe’s most coveted club prize. He also spearheaded PSG’s dominance in domestic competitions, securing the Ligue 1 title among other trophies.

Dembele’s rise to the pinnacle of world football has been anything but straightforward. Bursting onto the scene at Rennes, he enjoyed a breakout season at Borussia Dortmund, which earned him a then-record move to Barcelona worth up to £123 million, making him the world’s second-most expensive player at the time. However, his spell in Spain was marred by inconsistency and injuries, leading to his return to France in 2023. At PSG, Dembele reignited his career, fulfilling the potential that once made him Europe’s most sought-after prospect.

Despite PSG’s 1-0 loss to Marseille in a rearranged fixture, Dembele was on hand to collect his award. His coach, Luis Enrique, was absent due to his own recognition as the winner of the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for Best Coach.

The Ballon d’Or race was closely contested, with Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal finishing second. At just 18, Yamal would have become the youngest winner in history, a record still held by Ronaldo Nazario, who claimed the honor in 1997 at age 21. Yamal, however, was recognized with the Kopa Trophy for the second straight year.

In the women’s category, Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí made history by lifting the Ballon d’Or for a third consecutive year, after powering Barcelona Femení to the Primera División, Copa de la Reina, and Supercopa de España, contributing 15 goals and 10 assists. Sarina Wiegman was named Best Women’s Coach, while the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper went to Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) in the men’s game and Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) in the women’s. Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres received the Gerd Müller Prize for best forward.

English players also featured prominently in the rankings. Cole Palmer finished eighth after an impressive season with Chelsea, which included 18 goals, 14 assists, a Conference League title, and a Club World Cup victory. He ranked ahead of England captain Harry Kane (13th). In one of the biggest surprises, Scott McTominay, once deemed surplus at Manchester United, placed 18th after being voted Most Valuable Player in Napoli’s Serie A title win. He finished above the likes of Erling Haaland (26th), Declan Rice (27th), Virgil van Dijk (28th), and Jude Bellingham (23rd). On the women’s side, Leah Williamson of Arsenal and England secured seventh place.

Dembele’s triumph cements his transformation from a once-frustrated talent into a global superstar, his Ballon d’Or win marking both a personal redemption story and a crowning achievement in PSG’s history.