An emotional Dembele broke down in tears during his acceptance speech and used the stage to pay tribute to Lionel Messi, the legendary forward he once shared a dressing room with at Barcelona.
“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. To have been able to play with Messi was a blessing. This award is thanks to my teammates, my coaches, and my family. To my mother — thank you for always being there,” Dembele said.
While Dembele walked away with the Ballon d’Or, Lamine Yamal also had a spectacular campaign, scoring 46 goals in 61 matches for Barcelona and winning La Liga Young Player of the Season. At just 18, Yamal is already being touted as a future Ballon d’Or winner.
Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Vitinha (PSG)
4️⃣ Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
8️⃣ Cole Palmer (Chelsea) — highest-ranked English player
Dembele’s triumph is not only a personal milestone but also a massive boost for the Sports Market, with PSG now more marketable than ever on the global stage. The Ballon d’Or win enhances Dembele’s brand value, while Yamal’s rise signals the next era of global football superstars.
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✍️ Written by Abdul Noah Ocholi
For Sports Market International – Ranking As The Best Sport Blog In The Sports Market
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