The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony delivered one of the most surprising yet deserved victories in recent football history as Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé was officially crowned the best player in the world. The French forward edged out Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to win the most prestigious individual honor in football.

The Headline Result

 

Winner: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG / France)

Runner-Up: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

3rd Place: Vitinha ( PSG/ Portugal)

Dembélé’s spectacular season  filled with goals, assists, and dazzling match-winning performances, especially in the Champions League  finally saw him silence years of criticism and injury doubts.

“This is a dream come true. I’ve worked my whole life for this moment,” Dembélé said in his acceptance speech.

Other Big Winners

The night wasn’t only about Dembélé. Here’s a look at the full set of major awards from the ceremony:

Ballon d’Or Féminin: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain) — winning for the third consecutive year, cementing her status as the world’s best female footballer.

Kopa Trophy (Best U21): Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain) — a repeat winner, showcasing his incredible rise at just 17 years old.

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG / Italy) — rewarded for his consistency in Ligue 1 and Europe.

Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Goalscorer): Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP / Sweden) — recognized for his prolific scoring record.

Club of the Year: PSG (Men) & Arsenal (Women) — both honored for outstanding all-round campaigns.

 Why Dembélé Won

Dembélé’s triumph came down to three major factors:

1. Champions League Performances – Key goals and assists in knockout rounds highlighted his impact.

2. Consistency Across the Season – Unlike in previous years, he remained injury-free and delivered at both club and international level.

3. Tactical Freedom Under Luis Enrique – His role at PSG gave him the freedom to influence games centrally, maximizing his attacking output.

Ceremony Highlights

Lamine Yamal’s Future Is Bright – Though he missed out on the Ballon d’Or, Yamal picked up the Kopa Trophy for the second year in a row, proving he’s the next big global superstar.

Bonmatí’s Historic Three-Peat – Becoming only the second woman in history to win the Ballon d’Or three years in a row.

Donnarumma’s Redemption – After facing criticism in previous seasons, his performances helped secure him the Yashin Trophy.

What This Means for Football

For PSG: Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or cements the club’s dominance and highlights their ability to create world-class stars.

For Dembélé: This victory marks a career-defining moment, transforming his narrative from injury-plagued talent to global superstar.

For Football Fans: The ceremony showcased a generational shift  veterans like Dembélé still shine, but young stars like Yamal are ready to take over.

Final Word

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony was a celebration of resilience, talent, and new beginnings. From Dembélé’s crowning moment to Bonmatí’s continued dominance and Yamal’s meteoric rise, the night showed us that football’s present and future are brighter than ever.