Breaking: Dembele wins 2025 Ballon d’Or

French international and PSG forward, Ousmane Dembele has been named the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the highest individual accolade in football.

The reveal took place on Monday evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where top global talents assembled to honor the finest players from the previous year.

Dembele, aged 28, narrowly surpassed Barcelona and Spain’s young star Lamine Yamal to clinch the award, succeeding Rodri, the midfielder from Manchester City and Spain, who had received the honor in 2024.

The ex-winner from Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, who contributed to France's victory in the 2018 World Cup, netted 35 goals across all competitions while PSG achieved a double victory in the French league and cup and captured the Champions League for the first time in their history.

“I truly lack the words. It was an amazing year at PSG,” expressed a moved Dembele, who described his club manager Luis Enrique as “like a father.”

“It’s an individual award, yet it was truly a team effort that earned it,” remarked Dembele, who was among nine players from last season’s successful PSG squad nominated for this honor.

“The Ballon d’Or has never really been a target for me during my career, but I put in considerable effort to help the team win the Champions League.”

The 18-year-old Yamal, who shared a team with Dembele at Barcelona when he made his debut in 2023, has previously won the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes the best player under 21 – marking the second consecutive year he has received this honor.