His golden ball, his Parisian night. On Monday, 22 September 2025, Ousmane Dembélé finally stepped into the pantheon of French greats. At the Théâtre du Châtelet, the Paris Saint-Germain forward lifted the Ballon d’Or 2025, a trophy once held by Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinedine Zidane. By eclipsing Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, the 28-year-old became not only PSG’s talisman but the new face of French football — a moment that underlines a new chapter for the club and for France itself, as reported by G.Business.

A season written in numbers

Dembélé’s case was built on a campaign of rare dominance.

  • 35 goals and 14 assists in 53 matches across all competitions
  • 21 Ligue 1 goals, making him joint top scorer
  • Crowned Player of the Year in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League
  • Drove PSG to their first European treble: Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the Champions League
  • Reached the Club World Cup final, where PSG fell to Chelsea

For a club long accused of wasting its wealth, this was vindication. For Dembélé, who once carried the label of “perpetual talent unfulfilled”, it was a moment of rebirth.

The decision came down to two contrasting figures: the matured Frenchman versus Spain’s teenage marvel. Yamal dazzled with 19 La Liga goals and a Champions League semi-final winner against Arsenal. Yet Dembélé’s contribution to PSG’s treble outweighed the Spaniard’s promise. Where Yamal painted glimpses of the future, Dembélé delivered tangible history.

The ceremony was as much about PSG as about its forward. The club was named Team of the Year, manager Luis Enrique lifted the Johan Cruyff Trophy, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (now at Manchester City) was handed the Yashin Trophy. For president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the sight of his club dominating football’s gala was the validation of over a decade of investment.

Few journeys have been so turbulent. Signed by Barcelona in 2017 for €140 million, Dembélé was often late for training, constantly injured and accused of lacking discipline. Critics called him a luxury, a wasted investment. Yet in Paris he has become the opposite: fitter, sharper, more ruthless. Once a winger who hugged the touchline, he has transformed into a forward who scores, creates and dictates.

The emotional weight of the night was underlined when Ronaldinho — PSG’s cult hero from another era — handed him the trophy. Dembélé, visibly moved, thanked his mother and family before turning to Lionel Messi: “I learned so much from him. This Ballon d’Or belongs to him as well.” It was a poignant reminder that one generation’s influence often shapes another’s triumph.

Beyond Mbappé’s shadow

This award was also about context. With Kylian Mbappé chasing glory in Madrid, PSG needed a new leader. Dembélé provided it, symbolising not just a victory for Paris, but for France. To see a Frenchman, in Paris, lifting the golden ball — last achieved by Zidane more than two decades ago — was a moment that stretched beyond club rivalry.

Ten facts about Ousmane Dembélé

1. Born in Normandy – 15 May 1997 in Vernon, with roots in Mauritania and Senegal.

2. Rennes breakthrough – Scored 12 goals in his first Ligue 1 season in 2015/16.

3. Dortmund rise – Joined for €15m, won the German Cup 2017, and delivered 20 assists.

4. Barcelona record deal – Signed for over €140m in 2017, one of the costliest transfers ever.

5. Silverware in Spain – Won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and one Supercopa.

6. Move to PSG – Signed for €50m in 2023; reinvented himself under Luis Enrique.

7. France international – World Cup winner in 2018, played in the 2022 final in Qatar.

8. Playing style – Two-footed, explosive pace, famed for unpredictable dribbling.

9. Private life – Married in 2022, practising Muslim, known for avoiding scandals.

10. Ballon d’Or 2025 – Crowned in Paris as the first PSG player since Messi to win the award.

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