France head coach Didier Deschamps led the tributes after Ousmane Dembélé claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or in Paris.
“I am proud of him and his success,” Deschamps said warmly. The striker, who mentioned his coach in an emotional speech, stood before football’s elite on the glittering stage. Deschamps added with delight, “It’s wonderful. I’m very happy for him, and he deserves the global spotlight.”
Meanwhile, Ronaldinho, the Brazilian legend, handed Dembélé the coveted award at the Théâtre du Châtelet during a dazzling ceremony.
Dembélé, now 28, earned the accolade after a record-breaking season with Paris Saint-Germain. The club lifted the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the French Super Cup. In addition, they demolished Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich to secure their first Champions League crown.
Importantly, Dembélé assisted two goals in that final, which underlined his decisive influence. Consequently, PSG also won the Men’s Team of the Year award.
Overcoming Career Setbacks
Deschamps highlighted the resilience of his forward.
“His career has not been straightforward. Although injuries disrupted his progress, he always showed strength and came back stronger,” he explained.
Dembélé, who debuted for France at 19, has now joined the ranks of French Ballon d’Or winners. Significantly, he beat Barcelona star Yamine Lamal and PSG teammates Vitinha, Désiré Doué, and Fabian Ruiz to the honor.
Former teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also expressed admiration.
“He’s someone I truly value, and the award is fully deserved. If you know football, you cannot dispute it,” Aubameyang said firmly.
Dembélé’s journey to the trophy also tells a story of redemption. Last December, PSG boss Luis Enrique dropped him after a dispute during a Rennes clash. However, Enrique—who later won Coach of the Year—reinstated him and shifted him from the wing to a central role.
That change proved decisive. From December to March, Dembélé scored 25 goals in 20 matches. Therefore, PSG quickly moved on from the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.
Mbappé himself offered congratulations online:
“Really, really pleased for you, my brother. You deserve it a thousand times over.”
Symbol of Collective Strength
Former World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu shared his perspective:
“I’m not surprised. He played an extraordinary season. He turned his Barcelona struggles into proof of PSG’s collective strength.”
To celebrate, PSG unveiled a collector’s edition T-shirt honoring their first Ballon d’Or winner. Furthermore, the club described it as “a powerful way to celebrate an exceptional talent and a unique souvenir of this historic moment.”
