Ousmane Dembélé claimed the Ballon d'Or on Monday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward outshone Lamine Yamal.
Ousmane Dembélé’s victory at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony represents the pinnacle of a career that has been full of twists and turns.
On Monday night, in the prestigious setting of the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the French forward was crowned the best player in the world, completing a journey that once seemed destined for disappointment but has instead become a story of redemption. His win came ahead of Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, who finished second, and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who was ultimately ranked fourth.
For Dembélé, the road to this moment has been anything but smooth. He first burst onto the scene at Borussia Dortmund, where his explosive pace, dazzling dribbling skills and natural creativity made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young players. Barcelona quickly identified him as the ideal replacement for Neymar after the Brazilian’s record-breaking departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. The Catalan club paid over €100 million for his services, a fee that carried with it enormous pressure and expectations. Yet, instead of cementing himself as the next great star at Camp Nou, Dembélé’s time in Spain was marred by constant injuries, lack of consistency and a reputation for failing to deliver in the biggest moments. Though he produced occasional flashes of brilliance, his years at Barcelona were largely viewed as a sporting disappointment, and by the time he left the club, many had written him off as a wasted talent.
The transfer to Paris Saint-Germain offered him a chance to reset, and it turned out to be the best decision of his career. In Paris, surrounded by an attacking setup that allowed him to play with freedom and confidence, Dembélé rediscovered the form that had once made him a phenomenon in Germany. He stayed fit for an entire campaign and delivered numbers that silenced his critics. Over the course of last season, he scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 matches, directly influencing PSG’s run to both the Ligue 1 title and the long-awaited Champions League crown. His contribution in Europe’s most prestigious competition was especially decisive, with eight goals and six assists across 15 games, performances that elevated him into the Ballon d’Or conversation long before the voting began.
It was therefore little surprise that Dembélé arrived at the gala as the clear favorite, though he was pushed by a remarkable challenger in Lamine Yamal. At just eighteen years of age, the Barcelona winger enjoyed a stunning breakout season, scoring 18 goals and recording 25 assists in 55 appearances. His maturity, vision and ability to change games despite his youth made him one of the most talked-about players of the year, and many believed he could achieve the historic feat of becoming the youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever. Yet when the votes were counted, it was Dembélé’s consistency and decisive performances in both domestic and European competitions that secured him the prize.
The selection process followed the traditional format organized by France Football, which compiles a shortlist of thirty nominees before handing the voting power to one hundred journalists from one hundred different countries. Each journalist ranks their top five players, and the aggregated points determine the final standings. This year’s voting reflected not only Dembélé’s individual brilliance but also the importance of team achievements, as his role in PSG’s Champions League success weighed heavily in his favor. Alongside Dembélé, Yamal and Salah, other names to finish near the top included Barcelona’s Vitinha, who claimed third place, Raphinha in fifth, and Dutch internationals Denzel Dumfries and Virgil van Dijk, who were also among the top candidates.
The ceremony also recognized the best in women’s football, and for the third consecutive year, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí was crowned Ballon d’Or Féminin winner. At twenty-seven, she has firmly established herself as the dominant force in the women’s game, once again combining elegance and efficiency in midfield. Last season she contributed twelve goals in twenty-six league matches, adding to her reputation as a complete player capable of dictating matches at the highest level. Her continued excellence only reinforced Barcelona’s dominance in women’s football, as she collected yet another individual honor to go alongside the team’s collective successes.
Dembélé’s triumph, however, was the story of the night. For a player who was once written off as a transfer flop and whose career seemed derailed by injuries, the Ballon d’Or is the ultimate validation. It confirms his transformation from a struggling talent in Barcelona to a world-class leader in Paris. His victory not only highlights his personal perseverance but also signals a new chapter for PSG, a club long criticized for failing to translate its financial power into European glory. With Dembélé at the heart of their Champions League triumph, and now recognized individually as the best in the world, both player and club find themselves finally enjoying the success they had been chasing for years.
The question now is whether Dembélé can sustain this level of performance. History shows that winning the Ballon d’Or is one thing, but staying at the top requires even greater consistency and resilience. With challengers like Yamal rising fast and experienced stars like Salah still delivering at the highest level, the competition will remain fierce. But for now, Dembélé stands at the summit of world football, and his long, complicated journey has finally reached its golden reward.
