Ousmane Dembele, the French international forward for Paris Saint-Germain, has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for 2025. Aitana Bonmati, the Spanish international from Barcelona, has been awarded the women’s title for the third consecutive year.
Dembele, 28, had an exceptional season, netting 35 goals and providing 14 assists in 53 matches, contributing significantly to PSG’s triumphs in the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup. He shared the Ligue 1 top scorer honor with 21 goals and received accolades as both the French league and Champions League Player of the Year. Additionally, Dembele helped lead PSG to the Club World Cup final, where they were defeated by Chelsea in New Jersey.
With this win, Dembele becomes the sixth Frenchman to secure the prestigious award, following in the footsteps of Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema. Reflecting on his journey, Dembele expressed on social media, “They said I was finished. They laughed when I fell … This Ballon d’Or isn’t just a trophy—it’s a symbol of survival … To those who doubted… thank you, you made me stronger.”
Lamine Yamal, the promising 18-year-old talent, finished in second place and also earned the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. Five players from PSG featured in the top ten, with Vitinha in third, Achraf Hakimi in sixth, Gianluigi Donnarumma in ninth, and Nuno Mendes tenth. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah ranked fourth, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer placed eighth.
Bonmati, 27, secured her place at the top once again, with her Arsenal teammate Mariona Caldentey taking second. The top ten included five England players: Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, and Leah Williamson, who finished third, fifth, and seventh, and Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton, positioned ninth and tenth, respectively.
In receiving her award on stage from Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, Bonmati said, “My third time in a row here, and I still can’t believe it. Incredible. Thank you to France Football for this, for the third time – it really could have gone to anyone. … I owe Barcelona everything – this is the club of my life. I hope to represent this badge for many more years.”
The article originally appeared on Maktoob Media.
Tags: Ousmane Dembele, Aitana Bonmati, Ballon d’Or, historic treble, football awards
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