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Dembélé, 28, recorded 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions. Photo credit: Christian Bertrand/Shutterstock
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony took place this Monday, September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, celebrating the world’s best footballers for their performances over the past season. In the men’s category, Ousmane Dembélé, the French forward for Paris Saint-Germain, was crowned winner following a standout season in which he helped his club secure a historic treble, winning the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France.
Dembélé, 28, recorded 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, proving instrumental in PSG’s dominant campaign. His performance in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, which PSG won 5-0, included two decisive assists. During the award presentation, Dembélé paid an emotional tribute to his late mother, who passed away in 2024, expressing his gratitude for her support and inspiration throughout his career.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí, the Barcelona midfielder, secured her third consecutive Ballon d’Or. Bonmatí’s exceptional performances in the UEFA Women’s Euro and the Women’s Champions League final, where she was named player of the match, cemented her reputation as one of the world’s top footballers. She dedicated the award to her club, teammates, and family, and highlighted the significance of gender equality in football, noting that 2025 marked the first year in which both men’s and women’s awards received equal recognition.
Other notable awards included the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, won by Lamine Yamal of Barcelona. The Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper was shared between Hannah Hampton of Arsenal and Gianluigi Donnarumma before his departure from PSG. The Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer went to Ewa Pajor of Barcelona and Viktor Gyökeres of Sporting Lisbon.
The ceremony also recognised coaching excellence, awarding Luis Enrique as men’s coach of the year and Sarina Wiegman for the women’s category. PSG was named the best men’s club, while Arsenal received the honour for the best women’s team.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or gala celebrated not only individual brilliance but also the teamwork and dedication required to achieve success at the highest levels of football. Both Dembélé and Bonmatí’s victories underline their consistency, skill, and impact on the global game.
