Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world at the award ceremony in Paris on Monday, Afrosport reports.
The 28-year-old Frenchman of Malian, Mauritanian and Senegalese heritage had a stellar 2024-25 campaign, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists in 53 matches as the PSG finally won the Champions League and completed a quadruple.
Dembele was the firm favourite and won the award ahead of Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who won back-to-back Kopa Trophies as the best young player, while PSG and Portugal midfielder Vitinha was third.
OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ IS THE 2025 MEN’S BALLON D’OR!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/xLSvNVEh51
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
Liverpool and Egypt super star was fourth in the men’s rankings ahead of Barcelona’s Raphinha, Morocco and PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who won the Yacine Trophy for best goalkeeper, and PSG’s Nuno Mendes completed the top 10.
In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati was the winner for the third time in a row and finished ahead of Arsenal duo Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo.
AITANA BONMATI IS THE 2025 WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/wxk3OZsTle
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
The 27-year-old Spaniard became the first player to win the women’s Ballon d’Or three times, moving ahead of Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, who was the recipient in 2021 and 2022.
