Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the 2025 Ballon d'Or after a stellar season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The French winger was officially crowned the best player in the world at the prestigious ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Dembélé's journey to the Ballon d'Or wasn't always a straightforward one. Just a year prior, he found himself out of the PSG squad following a disagreement with his manager. However, a tactical switch by Luis Enrique, moving Dembélé into a central role, proved to be a turning point. From December to March, Dembélé exploded with 25 goals in 20 games, a run of form that his manager attributed to something the player "must have eaten over Christmas".

Beyond the impressive statistics, Dembélé's influence on both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game, his ability to create space, make decisive runs, and finish crucial plays, made him an indispensable asset for both PSG and the French national team. He played a pivotal role in leading PSG to a historic Champions League victory. His contributions included dribbling past multiple defenders, providing numerous assists, and scoring goals.

The ceremony itself was hosted by football legend Ruud Gullit and CBS Sports journalist Kate Scott. Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho presented Dembélé with the coveted trophy. Other notable awards presented that night included the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, which was won by Lamine Yamal for the second consecutive year. Other players who impressed throughout the season were Nuno Mendes, Désiré Doué, Vitinha and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Aitana Bonmatí won the Women's Ballon d'Or. Sarina Wiegman was named the top female coach.