Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé has been named the winner of the 69th Ballon d’Or, capping off a sensational season and earning his place among football’s elite.
The glamorous ceremony, held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, brought together the world’s best footballers for a night of celebration, with Dembélé becoming the sixth Frenchman in history to lift the prestigious trophy.
The 28-year-old forward, once plagued by injuries and questions over his consistency, has undergone a remarkable transformation at PSG, evolving into one of the most complete attackers in world football.His mix of blistering pace, creativity and defensive work rate was instrumental in PSG’s domestic dominance and deep run in Europe this season.
Dembele finished ahead of Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage sensation and Vitinha, PSG’s midfield maestro, who completed the podium. The award was voted on by 100 journalists from FIFA’s top-ranked nations,with each casting ballots for 10 players among the 30 nominees.
Full 2025 Ballon d’Or Rankings
- Ousmane Dembélé (France, 28, Forward, PSG)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, 18, Forward, FC Barcelona)
- Vitinha (Portugal, 25, Midfielder, PSG)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt, 33, Forward, Liverpool)
- Raphinha (Brazil, 28, Forward, FC Barcelona)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, 26, Defender, PSG)
- Kylian Mbappé (France, 26, Forward, Real Madrid)
- Cole Palmer (England, 23, Forward, Chelsea)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, 26, Goalkeeper, PSG / Manchester City)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal, 23, Defender, PSG)
- Pedri (Spain, 22, FC Barcelona)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, 24, Napoli / PSG)
- Harry Kane (England, 32, Bayern Munich)
- Désiré Doué (France, 20, PSG)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, 27, Sporting CP / Arsenal)
- Vinicius Junior (Brazil, 25, Real Madrid)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland, 36, FC Barcelona)
- Scott McTominay (Scotland, 28, Napoli)
- João Neves (Portugal, 20, PSG)
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, 27, Inter Milan)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, 29, Borussia Dortmund)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina, 26, Liverpool)
- Jude Bellingham (England, 22, Real Madrid)
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain, 29, PSG)
- Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands, 29, Inter Milan)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, 25, Manchester City)
- Declan Rice (England, 26, Arsenal)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, 34, Liverpool)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany, 22, Bayer Leverkusen / Liverpool)
- Michael Olise (France, 23, Bayern Munich)
Other Awards on the Night
- Kopa Trophy (Best U21 Player): Lamine Yamal – FC Barcelona
- Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma – PSG / Manchester City
- *Best Midfielder of the Year: *Vitinha – PSG
PSG dominated the evening with five players in the top 10, underlining their influence on world football in 2025.
Although many believe the Ballon d’Or comes with a hefty cash prize, the reality is quite different. The award, organized by France Football and backed by UEFA, does not include direct financial compensation. Winners receive the iconic golden statuette, which has an estimated value of around €3,000 but is primarily symbolic.
However, the impact of winning goes far beyond money. Clubs frequently reward Ballon d’Or winners with bonuses and performance incentives, while brands rush to sign them to lucrative sponsorship deals. The result is often a massive boost in market value, endorsements and global visibility.
“This is for everyone who believed in me through the tough times,” said an emotional Dembélé as he held the trophy aloft.
“It’s been a long road, but tonight shows that hard work and resilience always pay off.”
Winning the Ballon d’Or cements Dembélé’s legacy and further elevates PSG’s profile on the global stage , proving once again that the award is worth far more than its weight in gold.
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