BY Daniel Bampoe
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward Ousmane Dembele has been named the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, capping off one of the most remarkable football comebacks in recent years.
The 28-year-old Frenchman beat off competition from Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal, to claim the most prestigious individual prize in world football.
From Prodigy To Setbacks
Dembele’s career trajectory has been far from straightforward. Once considered one of Europe’s brightest young prospects, his €135 million transfer to Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 came with sky-high expectations.
But injuries, inconsistency, and criticism over professionalism overshadowed his time in Spain.
For several seasons, he failed to replicate the dazzling form he had shown as a teenager at Rennes and Dortmund, with many believing his potential was wasted.
That perception changed dramatically after his move to PSG in 2023, when the French champions secured his services for a relatively modest £43.5m — a bargain compared to Barcelona’s record-breaking outlay.
A Season For The History Books
The 2024/25 season proved transformative. Under the tactical guidance of coach Luis Enrique, Dembele was moved from his familiar right-wing role to a central striker position in mid-December.
At that stage, he had only scored five goals all season. The switch unleashed his full potential.
From December onwards, he struck 30 goals, finishing the campaign with 35 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.
His contributions were decisive as PSG secured a historic treble — clinching Ligue 1, the French Cup, and their long-awaited first UEFA Champions League title.
Dembele also helped his side reach the FIFA Club World Cup final, though they fell short against Chelsea in New Jersey.
His consistency did not go unnoticed. He ended as joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, won the French league’s Player of the Year, and was crowned UEFA Champions League Player of the Year.
National and International Recognition
On the international stage, Dembele’s resurgence also carried over to the French national team.
He netted two goals in seven appearances between 2024 and 2025, reinforcing his return as a vital attacking option for Les Bleus.
His Ballon d’Or triumph makes him only the sixth Frenchman to win the award — and just the second in the 21st century after Karim Benzema’s 2022 victory.
Ceremony And PSG’s Dominance
Despite PSG playing on the same night against Marseille, Dembele was allowed to attend the ceremony in Paris.
Ironically, he missed that game due to injury, as his club fell 1-0 at home to their rivals.
The night also highlighted PSG’s dominance in world football.
Manager Luis Enrique was named Coach of the Year, cementing his role in orchestrating Dembele’s transformation.
A Fitting Reward
For Dembele, this accolade marks not only the peak of his career but also a redemption story.
A player once written off as injury-prone and inconsistent has now risen to the summit of world football, proving that persistence, tactical reinvention, and self-belief can change a career’s narrative.
