Ousmane Dembele Crowned 2025 Ballon d’Or Winner Ahead of Lamine Yamal

Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, capping off the best season of his career and sealing a fairytale moment in Paris.

The 28-year-old attacker broke down in tears as he received the award from Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, beating Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal to football’s most prestigious individual prize.

A Record-Breaking Season With PSG

Dembele’s triumph comes off the back of a historic campaign where he was the driving force behind PSG’s first-ever Champions League title.

• 51 goal involvements in 59 matches

• Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner

• Champions League Player of the Season

• Key man in PSG’s domestic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, French Super Cup)
  

It marks a remarkable turnaround for the Frenchman, who endured injury setbacks and criticism during his time at Barcelona before becoming the face of PSG’s new era.

Emotional Speech

A tearful Dembele dedicated the award to his family, especially his mother, and paid tribute to his roots:

“This is an award thanks to the collective. I want to thank all my teammates, my family, and my mother who has always been there for me. To have played with Lionel Messi and learned from him was a dream. To win this award in Paris means everything.”

Yamal Misses Out, Vitinha Shines

At just 18, Lamine Yamal pushed Dembele all the way after scoring 46 goals in 61 matches and leading Barcelona to the La Liga title. He was named La Liga Young Player of the Season, confirming his status as football’s brightest rising star.

Dembele’s PSG teammate Vitinha finished third, while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah came fourth. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer also made headlines by breaking into the top 10, finishing eighth.

The Rankings (Top 5)

1. Ousmane Dembele (PSG)

2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

3. Vitinha (PSG)

4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

5. [Next player — depending on full release]

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✍️ Written by Abdul Noah Ocholi | Sports Market International