Ousmane Dembele has etched his name in football history by winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or. The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball at a ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This marks the first time a PSG player has ever won the coveted individual award.

The 28-year-old Dembele's stellar performances throughout the 2024-2025 season played a pivotal role in PSG's success, leading them to a historic Champions League victory. He also helped the team secure the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Champions and the European Super Cup. Dembele finished the season with an impressive 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games across all competitions. In Ligue 1, he recorded 21 goals and eight assists in 29 appearances, while also contributing eight goals and six assists in 15 Champions League matches.

The Ballon d'Or win is a significant milestone in Dembele's career, which saw him overcome challenges and reach the pinnacle of individual recognition. After a high-profile move from Borussia Dortmund, his time at Barcelona was marked by inconsistency. However, since joining PSG, Dembele has rediscovered his best form, becoming a key player for the club and country.

Dembele is the sixth French player to win the Ballon d'Or, joining the ranks of Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema. He beat out strong competition from other top players, including Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who finished as runner-up, and his PSG teammate Vitinha, who came in third. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah finished fourth in the rankings.

In addition to Dembele's individual triumph, PSG was also recognized as the Men's Club of the Year. This award reflects the club's outstanding achievements throughout the season, including their Champions League victory and domestic dominance. PSG's manager, Luis Enrique, was also awarded the Men's Johan Cruyff Trophy.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony also celebrated other outstanding achievements in football. Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona won the Women's Ballon d'Or for the third consecutive year. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. Other award winners included Vicky Lopez (Women's Kopa Trophy), Sarina Wiegman (Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Men's Yashin Trophy), Hannah Hampton (Women's Yashin Trophy), Viktor Gyokeres (Men's Gerd Muller Trophy), and Ewa Pajor (Women's Gerd Muller Trophy).