PSGs Dembélé crowns historic season with Ballon d’Or triumph

Ousmane Dembélé, striker of Paris Saint-Germain, was crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or 2025 at a ceremony in Paris. Dembélé, who played a key role in PSG's first Champions League triumph this year, ended the 2024/25 season with a total of 35 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. The 28-year-old also won the Ligue 1 Golden Boot and was named Player of the Year in the Champions League, while his team became the first French team to win the continental treble. "What I am experiencing right now is extraordinary - I have no words for what has happened with PSG. I want to thank PSG, who signed me in 2023. It's an incredible family. The president, Nasser (Al-Khelaifi), is like a father to me. I also want to thank the entire staff and the coach, who have all been exceptional with me," said Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé is the sixth Frenchman to win the prestigious award and celebrated a career comeback at PSG after six rather disappointing years at FC Barcelona. After a quiet first season in Paris, head coach Luis Enrique, who was named "Coach of the Year" at the gala, moved Dembélé from the right wing to the striker position in December. From this position, Dembélé scored 30 goals, led PSG to a historic treble, and to the final of the Club World Cup, which they lost to Chelsea. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal finished second in the Ballon d’Or vote, followed by PSG's Vitinha in third place. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Yamal's teammate Raphinha finished fourth and fifth.