In a stunning announcement tonight at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, edging out fierce competition from the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham. The 28-year-old French winger delivered a career-defining season that has rewritten the narrative of his once injury-plagued career.
🏆 Season Stats (2024/25)
- Appearances: 51 (All Competitions)
- Goals: 27
- Assists: 29
- Key Passes per Game: 3.8
- Dribbles Completed: 162 (highest in Europe)
- Trophies Won:
- UEFA Champions League (with Paris Saint-Germain)
- Ligue 1
- Coupe de France
- UEFA Euro 2024 (with France)
🚀 A Career Resurrection
After years of being labeled a “what-if” due to recurring injuries, Dembélé stunned the world with a season full of flair, consistency, and decisive contributions. His blistering pace, jaw-dropping dribbling, and improved decision-making turned him into the creative engine behind PSG’s historic treble — and France’s triumphant UEFA Euro 2024 campaign.
In the Champions League, Dembélé notched 6 goals and 10 assists, including a man-of-the-match performance in the final against Manchester City, where he scored a goal and assisted another in PSG’s 3-1 win. His link-up play with Mbappé and Vitinha became one of Europe’s most feared attacking trios.
🇫🇷 Hero of the Euros
Just months before the Ballon d’Or gala, Dembélé was instrumental in France’s Euro 2024 run, registering 3 goals and 5 assists in the tournament. His extra-time winner against Germany in the semifinal and assist for the winning goal in the final versus England became defining moments of his campaign.
📉 From Doubt to Dominance
Once ridiculed for his injury record and inconsistency, Dembélé’s transformation under Luis Enrique at PSG and Didier Deschamps for France has silenced critics. His conditioning, positional discipline, and final-third intelligence have matured — making him a complete forward.
🗣️ Reactions
- Kylian Mbappé: “No one deserves it more this year. Ousmane has worked so hard, and we’ve all seen the magic he brings on and off the pitch.”
- Luis Enrique: “This is not just a win for Dembélé, but for every player who has ever been doubted. He’s earned every bit of this recognition.”
- Thierry Henry (Ballon d’Or panelist): “He was electric. His stats are one thing, but the way he changed games… he was the X-factor in every big moment.”
🏅 Final Ballon d’Or Rankings (Top 5)
- Ousmane Dembélé (PSG/France)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid/France)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil)
Ousmane Dembélé, once a symbol of unfulfilled potential, now stands at the pinnacle of world football — a Ballon d’Or winner in a year where his brilliance could no longer be ignored.
