Ousmane Dembélé Crowned Ballon d’Or Winner Amid Emotional Scenes in Paris

Ousmane Dembélé was moved to tears as he received the 2025 Ballon d’Or, marking the most significant moment of his career after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to Champions League glory.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CEREMONY?

The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris witnessed a historic scene on Monday night as Dembélé accepted the Ballon d’Or. The PSG and France winger was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears multiple times during his acceptance speech. He highlighted the profound influence of his mother, who joined him on stage, and remembered his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi as he reflected on the journey that brought him here. Dembélé’s heartfelt words left a strong impression on the audience, underlining how much the award means to him after years of hard work and overcoming injuries and setbacks.

SEASON OF GLORY FOR DEMBÉLÉ AND PSG

Dembélé’s win comes after a truly remarkable 2024/25 season. The 28-year-old was a key figure in Paris Saint-Germain’s triumphs, helping the club win Ligue 1 and, for the first time in its history, the UEFA Champions League. Dembélé scored 8 goals and provided 6 assists in the Champions League, as well as contributing significantly to PSG’s historic treble last season, which included winning the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France. His performances saw him edge out young Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal for the award. PSG’s success did not stop with Dembélé: Gianluigi Donnarumma was recognized as Best Goalkeeper, while Luis Enrique won Best Coach for his part in steering PSG to their historic achievements.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE RACE FOR GLORY?

PSG’s focus now shifts back to domestic action, as they prepare for a Ligue 1 clash against Auxerre this weekend after losing at Marseille yesterday night. PSG are level on points at the top of the table with AS Monaco, Lyon and Strasbourg, as they try to bounce back from last night’s loss. With Dembélé in top form and boosted by personal and team accolades, PSG aims to build on their lead and maintain momentum as they pursue another league title and defend their European crown. The eyes of the football world will be on Dembélé to see if he can inspire another season of brilliance.