Once upon a time, the Ballon d’Or was the reign of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But now they are in the twilight of their careers. The two were not even on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or. The discussion was more about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele. The fight was also more between the two. Where Dembele won the Ballon d’Or by defeating Yamal.
Dembele was presented with the 2025 Ballon d’Or by French magazine France Football at a grand ceremony in Paris on Monday night (September 22). The 28-year-old footballer won the award for the best footballer of the year for the first time. The PSG forward has achieved this feat as the sixth French footballer.
Many were putting Dembele ahead of others to win the Ballon d’Or this time. He made a big contribution to PSG’s Champions League, Ligue 1 and French Cup victories last season. In addition, the former Barcelona forward scored the only winning goal in the one-match title fight, the French Super Cup.
Dembele scored 35 goals in 53 matches in all competitions, including 8 in PSG’s first Champions League win. He also provided 16 assists. However, he was well-challenged by Lamine Yamal, who himself was brilliant in the football arena last season. He came in second.
The young Spanish winger has made a significant contribution to Barcelona’s La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup victories. Yamal has been in stunning form throughout the season, scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions, leading many to consider him a potential Ballon d’Or winner.
Dembele accepted the Ballon d’Or trophy with his mother by his side. He went up on stage and told his mother, who was sitting among the guests, first, “We did this together.” Dembele then burst into tears. After host Kate Scott called his mother to the stage, he became a little emotional.
Then he composed himself and said, “One of the best achievements of my career. I want to thank PSG for signing me in 2023. My teammates are amazing this year, just like last year. This is not a personal trophy, it’s an achievement for all of us.”
Dembele became the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or, after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema. His PSG teammates were not lucky enough to see it live. Luis Enrique’s team was playing a league match at Marseille’s stadium on the night of the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Although they lost the match 1-0, no one should have felt so bad.
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football for the best footballer of the year.
Who was the runner-up for the award?
Lamine Yamal finished second, recognized for his outstanding performances with Barcelona last season.
What achievements helped Dembele win the Ballon d’Or?
Dembele scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 matches, contributing to PSG’s Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup victories.
Did Dembele achieve any milestones with this award?
Yes, he became the sixth French player to win the Ballon d’Or, following legends like Zidane and Benzema.
