Ballon d’Or
‘It Brought Tears to My Eyes’ – Dayot Upamecano Reveals Emotional Reaction to Ousmane Dembele Winning Ballon d’Or
Seeing Ousmane Dembele crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner was a deeply emotional moment for Dayot Upamecano. The Bayern Munich defender, who grew up with the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star in Evreux, admitted he was moved to tears after watching his childhood friend and France teammate lift football’s most prestigious individual award.
Emotional Upamecano hails Dembele’s historic win
In an interview with Le Parisien, Upamecano expressed his pride at seeing Dembele join the elite list of Ballon d’Or winners. The 28-year-old PSG forward enjoyed a sensational 2024/25 season, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists, while inspiring the Parisian club to a historic treble — Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League.
Dembele beat Barcelona wonderkid Yamine Lamal and PSG teammate Vitinha to claim the award in Paris on September 22.
“When I saw him lift the Ballon d’Or, it brought tears to my eyes,” said Upamecano. “We all knew he would become a great player, but still… Seeing him thank his family, his mother, his friends — it was a magnificent moment.”
From schoolyard rivals to global recognition
Upamecano and Dembele share a long history, having grown up together in Evreux, France, where they honed their skills on the same pitches.
“We went to the same school, we played on the same pitches, I played against him in CM1-CM2,” recalled the Bayern star. “Those were some of the best moments of my life. In Evreux, everyone came together — African, Turkish — it was special. Now having a Ballon d’Or winner from our region is a huge source of pride.”
A proud moment for France and Evreux
For Upamecano, Dembele’s triumph is not just a personal joy but also a collective victory for their hometown and for French football.
“Having a Ballon d’Or winner from our region is amazing,” he said. “It shows kids from Evreux that anything is possible.”
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