Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé, a 28-year-old France international, has been honored with the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, marking the most esteemed individual accolade in football. The prestigious ceremony took place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22, and was presented by France Football.

Dembélé’s triumph follows a highly successful 2024/25 season with Paris Saint-Germain, where his contributions were pivotal. He registered an impressive 35 goals and provided 14 assists across 53 matches, instrumental in guiding the club to a remarkable domestic treble: the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup, and the Champions League. He also played a significant role in the Club World Cup final, where PSG ultimately faced defeat against Chelsea.

His outstanding individual performances throughout the season garnered him both the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and Champions League Player of the Year awards. Additionally, Dembélé was recognized as the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals. In the highly competitive Ballon d’Or voting, Dembélé secured the top spot, finishing ahead of Barcelona's burgeoning talent Lamine Yamal, who placed second, and his PSG teammate Vitinha, who took third place.

Visibly moved by the occasion, Dembélé accepted the award on stage, joined by his mother. He expressed his profound gratitude to PSG, his teammates, and the club staff for their unwavering support. “What I have just experienced is exceptional… I have no words for it,” he stated, adding, “I feel a bit of stress; it’s not easy to win this trophy, and to have it presented to me by Ronaldinho, a legend of football, is truly exceptional.” He emphasized that the award was a testament not only to his personal achievements but also to the collective success of the team throughout the season. His win also underscored his West African heritage, with a Malian father and a mother of Mauritanian and Senegalese descent.

The ceremony also celebrated other distinguished talents in football. The Men’s Kopa Trophy, recognizing the best young player, was awarded to Lamine Yamal. Gianluigi Donnarumma received the Men’s Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, while Luis Enrique was honored with the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach. The Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy, for the top scorer, went to Viktor Gyökeres.

Ousmane Dembélé’s 2025 Ballon d’Or victory culminates a stellar season for both the player and Paris Saint-Germain, marking a year of significant dominance in both domestic and European competitions. The top ten for the Men’s Ballon d’Or included: 1. Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain), 2. Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona), 3. Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain), 4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool), 5. Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona), 6. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain), 7. Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid), 8. Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea), 9. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain), 10. Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain).