A Night of Triumph in Paris
The world of football celebrated its brightest stars at the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, where Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí were crowned the world’s best players. The glamorous event at the Théâtre du Châtelet on Monday, September 22, honored the most exceptional individual and team performances of the 2024-25 season.
Dembélé’s Crowning Moment
Ousmane Dembélé secured his first-ever Ballon d’Or, capping a phenomenal season that saw him lead Paris Saint-Germain to an unprecedented trophy haul. The 28-year-old French forward was instrumental in his club’s historic campaign, which included their first UEFA Champions League title, the Ligue 1 crown, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions.
Throughout the season, Dembélé was a dominant force, registering an incredible 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions. His performance earned him the top prize ahead of 18-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who finished as the runner-up. Dembélé is the first French player to win the coveted award since Karim Benzema in 2022 and the first to win while playing in Ligue 1 since Jean-Pierre Papin in 1991. Due to a hamstring injury, Dembélé was able to attend the ceremony in person, even as his PSG teammates were competing in a rescheduled league match against Marseille.
Bonmatí Makes History with Third Consecutive Win
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí cemented her legendary status by winning the Ballon d’Or Féminin for a historic third consecutive year. The 27-year-old Barcelona and Spain midfielder joins the elite company of Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as the only players to achieve this remarkable feat. Bonmatí’s relentless excellence was pivotal for both her club and country, continuing a five-year streak of a Barcelona player winning the award. She was chosen ahead of runner-up Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal and her fellow Spain teammate, with Arsenal’s Alessia Russo finishing third.
Full Slate of Honorees
The ceremony recognized talent across all facets of the game, with several other major awards presented throughout the evening. The winners reflected a season of dominance by Europe’s top clubs and international teams.
- Kopa Trophy (Best U21 Player): Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the men’s award for the second straight year, while his clubmate Vicky López claimed the inaugural women’s trophy.
- Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma was recognized for his Champions League-winning season at PSG, while England’s Euro 2025 hero, Hannah Hampton of Chelsea, won the women’s award.
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Best Striker): Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor were awarded for their prolific goalscoring seasons.
- Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach): PSG’s trophy-laden manager Luis Enrique took home the men’s award, and Lionesses’ manager Sarina Wiegman was honored for leading England to another European Championship title.
- Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain was named Men’s Club of the Year, with Arsenal receiving the women’s honor after their Champions League triumph.
- Socrates Award: The Xana Foundation, launched by Luis Enrique and his family to support children with serious illnesses, was recognized for its outstanding humanitarian work.
Rankings Spark Debate Among Fans
Before the top prizes were announced, the release of the full player rankings stirred considerable debate among fans and pundits. According to reports from digitaltrendstoday.com, the placements of several world-class players outside the top ten raised eyebrows. Notably, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane finished 13th, while Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham placed 16th and 23rd, respectively. Perhaps most surprisingly, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was ranked 26th, fueling discussions about the criteria and voting process for the prestigious award.
