PSG star Ousmane Dembélé has claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or, edging out Barcelona’s rising talent Lamine Yamal. Dembélé became the clear favorite after an extraordinary 2024–25 season with PSG.
The French winger was instrumental in PSG’s historic treble, helping the club capture the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France.
His numbers were equally impressive: 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances. Even more importantly, he delivered in the biggest moments, solidifying his status as football’s top individual performer.
In his acceptance speech, Dembélé paid tribute to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, highlighting the pivotal role he played in his career since leaving Barcelona.
“I wanted to thank PSG, who came to get me in 2023,” Dembélé said while accepting the award. “The president, the whole club. It’s a family. […] The president has been exceptional with me! He’s like a dad to me! Just like Luis Enrique! He has been a very important person!”
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The biggest competition for Ousmane Dembélé this year was Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Last season, Yamal was instrumental for the Spanish side, tallying 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 appearances while helping Barcelona win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España, solidifying his status as a top Ballon d’Or contender.
Although Yamal didn’t take home the award, his father had a brief message for the media, sparking speculation about PSG star Dembélé’s victory.
“We have to say that something very strange has happened here,” Yamal’s dad told El Chiringuito. “I think this is the biggest… not robbery, I won’t say that, but the greatest moral harm to a human being.
“Because I believe that Lamine is the best player in the world by far, by a huge margin. Not because he’s my son, but because he’s the best player in the world. I don’t think he has rivals.”