FRANCE | 28-year-old football star, Ousmane Dembélé, has made history by winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Black man to win the prestigious award since George Weah in 1995.
The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by French magazine France Football since 1956 to honour the player deemed to have performed the best over the previous season.
Dembele beat out Barcelona sensation, Lamine Yamal, to win the most prestigious individual prize in football, an award that for many years had been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His accomplishment not only highlights his form in the 2024–25 season but also places him among the ten players who have achieved the rare feat of winning the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or in their careers.
Dembele's Story and How He Did It
Born in Normandy, France, Dembélé’s football journey began at Rennes, where his outstanding talent earned him the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award in his very first season.
His rise continued when he signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2016, winning the DFB-Pokal and scoring in the final, instantly marking himself as one of Europe’s brightest young talents.
In 2017, he made headlines when Barcelona paid €105 million to sign him into their team, making him the joint-second most expensive footballer in the world at the time. At Barça, he won multiple domestic trophies, including three La Liga titles.
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In 2023, Dembélé returned home, signing with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for €50.4 million, which proved to be the turning point of his career.
For the 2024–25 season, he was exceptional, scoring 33 goals and providing 15 assists in 49 matches, leading PSG to a historic continental treble. His performance earned him Ligue 1 Player of the Year and UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.
Dembélé’s extraordinary performance also culminated in his being named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner after topping the vote of 100 international journalists.
His win makes him not only the sixth Frenchman to ever win the award but also a record-breaker as the first Black recipient since George Weah, 30 years ago.
Reflecting on his achievement on the award night, Dembélé thanked his family and teammates, dedicating the honor to the collective effort of PSG.
“What I’ve just experienced is extraordinary. I’m lost for words. Winning this trophy after football legends is truly exceptional. The Ballon d’Or was never a goal in my career, but I’m happy tonight,” he said.
He also praised his coach, Luis Enrique, who won Club Coach of the Year, calling him “like a father.” Dembélé’s dream came full circle when he received the award from one of his childhood idol, Rodri, making the night even more unforgettable.
In another story, Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala became the best-ever women’s player in Africa after winning the Confederation of African Football (CAF) best women’s player of the year award five times consecutively. Read Asisat’s story HERE.
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