- French forward Ousmane Dembele completed one of football’s greatest redemption arcs by claiming the 2025 Ballon d’Or
- He outshone rising teenage prodigies such as Lamine Yamal and even his own superstar teammates to take home the crown
- With overwhelming backing from international journalists, his extraordinary season was rewarded in emphatic fashion
Ousmane Dembele was crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, cementing his place among football’s greatest players during a colourful ceremony in Paris on September 22.
The Paris Saint-Germain and France forward collected 1,380 points to finish ahead of Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal (1,059) and PSG teammate Vitinha (703) at the Paris gala.
Source: Getty Images
Ousmane Dembele clinches 2025 Ballon d’Or
The award marks a remarkable turnaround in Dembele career. Once plagued by injuries and inconsistency, the 28-year-old flourished under Luis Enrique’s system at PSG.
He played a central role in their historic campaign, firing decisive goals and assists in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, where the club finally lifted the coveted European crown. According to Transfermarkt, the ex-Barcelona man racked up 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games across all competitions during the 2024/25 season.
Following his coronation, an emotional Dembele dedicated his triumph to his teammates and family, paying special tribute to his mother.
“This is exceptional. I would not be here without the support of my loved ones and my team,” he said during his acceptance speech.
Dembele thus becomes the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or and the first since Karim Benzema in 2022.
Meanwhile, his victory is widely hailed as a story of redemption: a once-criticized winger now transformed into the world’s finest footballer, crowned on the game’s biggest individual stage.
Source: Getty Images
73 journalists voted Dembele as No.1
Another fascinating aspect of Ousmane Dembele’s 2025 Ballon d’Or triumph is that 73 out of 100 journalists placed him as their first-choice candidate, a clear reflection of the overwhelming support he enjoyed from the global voting panel.
The 73 countries who selected Dembele as No.1 in their choices are Albania, England, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Benin, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Curaçao, Denmark, Ireland, Ecuador, United States, Finland, France, Wales, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Israel, and Iceland.
The remaining nations are Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Mali, Mexico, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, DR Congo, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Uruguay, and Zambia.
Also, according to L’Equipe, the Paris Saint-Germain attacker appeared in the selecions of each of the 100 international journalists, as cited by MEGA PSG on X.
Fans react to Dembele’s Ballon d’Or win
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele’s 2025 Ballon d’Or victory has sparked huge reactions from football fans around the globe, with supporters taking to social media to share their thoughts. Here are some fan reactions.
@Letruaq said:
“From injuries to lifting the Ballon d’Or… what a journey. So proud of our star man!”
@FlavienAman wrote:
“Dembélé’s story is one of the greatest comebacks in football. He never gave up, and now he’s on top of the world.”
@SeasonGoat also commented:
“Yamal had an amazing season too, but 73 first-place votes say it all. Dembélé deserved this.”
@RomainFrancosi said:
“Another Frenchman bringing the Ballon d’Or home! Vive la France.”
Why Dembele was Ballon d’Or favourite
Earlier, YEN.com.gh had earlier highlighted the key reasons why Ousmane Dembele emerged as the 2025 Ballon d’Or frontrunner ahead of Lamine Yamal.
Pointing to his decisive goals, consistency in big games, and his pivotal role in PSG’s historic Champions League triumph, the talented French footballer presented a stronger case.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
