The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, held on September 22 in Paris, was a night of celebration for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona. Ousmane Dembele, the 28-year-old French forward, won the men’s Ballon d’Or, marking his first time claiming the prestigious award. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati secured the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive year, making history. The event highlighted the incredible achievements of both players and their clubs, with PSG earning multiple honors. Here’s a closer look at the night’s highlights and what these awards mean for football.
1. Ousmane Dembele’s Breakthrough Victory
Ousmane Dembele was named the world’s best male player of the 2024-25 season, a major milestone in his career. The French forward, who plays for PSG, beat out strong competition from Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal, who came in second, and his PSG teammate Vitinha, who placed third. Dembele’s win makes him the sixth French player to claim the Ballon d’Or, following in the footsteps of Karim Benzema, who won in 2022.
Dembele’s journey to this award was not easy. After facing serious injuries and challenges earlier in his career, he found his form under the guidance of PSG coach Luis Enrique. His standout performances helped PSG win their first-ever Champions League title last season, along with the Ligue 1 and French Cup, forming a historic treble. Dembele’s emotional speech at the Paris ceremony reflected his gratitude. “What I have just experienced is exceptional, I have no words for it,” he said, thanking PSG, his coach, teammates, and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, whom he called a “father” figure. He also teared up while thanking his mother, who joined him on stage.
2. PSG’s Night of Triumph
The 2025 Ballon d’Or awards were a big moment for PSG, as the club took home multiple honors. In addition to Dembele’s win, PSG was named the Men’s Club of the Year for their incredible season, which included the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup, and UEFA Super Cup titles. Luis Enrique, PSG’s coach, was voted the best men’s coach, recognized for his role in leading the team to these successes despite losing star player Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer. Former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City, also won the Yashin Trophy as the top goalkeeper.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi praised the collective effort behind these achievements. “It’s the result of hard work by everyone at the club,” he said. “We’ve got young players and stars who work for the team. It’s a collective achievement.” The awards reflect PSG’s dominance and their ability to shine on both individual and team levels.
3. Aitana Bonmati’s Historic Third Win
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati made history by winning the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third year in a row, becoming the first woman and only the third player overall—after Lionel Messi and Michel Platini—to achieve this feat. The 27-year-old Spanish midfielder was a key player for Barcelona and Spain, helping her club win a domestic treble, including a sixth consecutive Liga F title, and reaching the Champions League final. Despite losses to Arsenal in the Champions League final and England in the Euro 2025 final, Bonmati’s brilliance earned her the award over competitors like Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo.
Bonmati credited her teammates for her success, saying, “I’m here for the third time in a row because of the teams I’ve been playing with.” She also acknowledged the challenges of the season, noting, “We couldn’t win the Champions League this year, but we went to the final, and it’s football—it’s not always about winning or losing.” Her resilience, especially after battling viral meningitis before Euro 2025, made her win even more inspiring.
4. Other Key Winners
The ceremony also recognized other standout performers. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, despite missing out on the main award, won the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player for the second consecutive year. His teammate Vicky Lopez took home the women’s Kopa Trophy, completing a Barcelona sweep in the youth category. England’s Sarina Wiegman was named the women’s coach of the year for leading the Lionesses to back-to-back Euro titles. Arsenal was honored as the Women’s Club of the Year after their Champions League victory.
5. Why These Awards Matter
The Ballon d’Or is the highest individual honor in football, and the 2025 ceremony showed the sport’s global talent. Dembele’s win highlights his incredible turnaround, proving that perseverance and the right support can lead to greatness. Bonmati’s third consecutive award cements her as one of the best women’s players ever, while also showcasing the growing recognition of women’s football, with equal awards for men and women at this year’s event. PSG’s multiple awards underline their rise as a football powerhouse, while Barcelona continues to dominate the women’s game.
6. Looking Ahead
Dembele vowed to keep pushing forward, expressing his goal to win another World Cup with France in 2026. Bonmati’s focus on teamwork and resilience sets a strong example for young players. As football evolves, the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony celebrated not just individual brilliance but also the collective spirit of teams like PSG and Barcelona. With stars like Dembele and Bonmati leading the way, the future of the sport looks bright.
