The PSG forward won the prize ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
The winner of the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or is Ousmane Dembélé, forward for Paris Saint-Germain.
The French side’s domestic dominance and run to Champions League glory meant PSG were always likely to house the winner of this year’s award.
While right back Achraf Hakimi and midfield maestro Vitinha were touted as possible champions, Dembélé has been one of the top favorites for several months alongside Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who finished second in voting.
At 28, Dembélé had the best season of his career in 2024–25, beginning in his customary position on the right side of PSG’s attack before manager Luis Enrique’s tactical switch to striker, which proved a stroke of genius.
With 21 goals and eight assists in 29 Ligue 1 appearances, Dembélé shared the division’s top scorer award and was named to the Team of the Year, but his Champions League performances were instrumental in strengthening his case for the Ballon d’Or.
As a key player for PSG, the France international made significant contributions to the team’s success, scoring eight goals and netting against top-tier opponents like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
While Dembélé wasn’t scoring goals in Europe, he was creating them.
He concluded the campaign with six assists, including for the decisive goal in the semifinal victory over Arsenal and two of the five goals netted in the final against Inter.
Receiving a Ballon d’Or as a football player is, clearly, the ultimate individual accolade,” Dembélé declared to France Football in June.
“It is an aspiration that one nurtures from a very young age.
“I vividly remember watching the Ballon d’Or presentation on Téléfoot, and seeing the players receive the honor was an unforgettable experience. The Ballon d’Or, as an object, is truly exceptional.”
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