(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Ballon d’Or 2025: Ousmane Dembélé Crowned Best Player in the World
Paris, France – The City of Lights became the world capital of football on Tuesday night as the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony took place at the Théâtre du Châtelet, honoring the brightest stars of the game.
The spotlight of the evening fell on Ousmane Dembélé, who lifted the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or after a sensational season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The 28-year-old French forward edged past Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Vitinha to claim football’s most prestigious individual honor.
Dembélé’s remarkable year included 37 goals and 15 assists, driving PSG to their long-awaited first UEFA Champions League title along with a domestic double. Already named Champions League Player of the Season, his Ballon d’Or win cements his status among the game’s elite.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2025 – Top 10 Rankings
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Ousmane Dembélé – France (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Lamine Yamal – Spain (Barcelona)
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Vitinha – Portugal (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Mohamed Salah – Egypt (Liverpool)
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Raphinha – Brazil (Barcelona)
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Achraf Hakimi – Morocco (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Kylian Mbappé – France (Real Madrid)
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Cole Palmer – England (Chelsea)
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Gianluigi Donnarumma – Italy (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Nuno Mendes – Portugal (Paris Saint-Germain)
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí made history by winning the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a third consecutive year. The Barcelona midfielder continues to shine as one of the greatest female players of all time.
The night also honored football’s rising stars and specialists:
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Lamine Yamal collected the Men’s Kopa Trophy as the world’s best young player.
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Vicky López of Barcelona won the Women’s Kopa Trophy.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma earned the Men’s Yashin Trophy, while Hannah Hampton of Chelsea took home the women’s honor.
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Other winners included Viktor Gyökeres, Ewa Pajor, Luis Enrique, Sarina Wiegman, and clubs PSG (Men’s Club of the Year) and Arsenal (Women’s Club of the Year).
The 2025 edition highlighted a new era of dominance by PSG and Barcelona, stretching from senior squads to youth talent. For football fans, the ceremony showcased both Dembélé’s long-awaited rise and Yamal’s rapid emergence, adding fresh chapters to the sport’s global story.
As the Ballon d’Or continues to define greatness, Paris once again stood at the heart of football’s biggest stage.
