Paris witnessed a night of footballing history on Monday as Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati etched their names deeper into the sport’s legacy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele capped off the finest season of his career by lifting the men’s Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona and Spain’s Aitana Bonmati became the first woman ever to win the accolade three years in succession.
Dembele’s Career-Defining Year
Dembele’s transformation from winger to clinical centre-forward proved decisive for PSG after Kylian Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid. Under Luis Enrique’s guidance, the Frenchman flourished, scoring 35 goals across competitions and spearheading PSG’s march to a domestic double and their first-ever Champions League title.
The crowning moment came in Munich, where PSG dismantled Inter Milan 5-0 in the final — a performance that confirmed their rise as Europe’s newest powerhouse.
“This is beyond words. It was an incredible season with PSG,” Dembele said, visibly moved at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. He credited Enrique, who was also named Men’s Coach of the Year, as being “like a father” in shaping his evolution.
While acknowledging the personal honor, Dembele underlined the collective effort: “This may be an individual trophy, but in truth, it belongs to the whole team.”
Bonmati’s Historic Hat-Trick
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati continued her reign, securing her third straight Ballon d’Or despite Barcelona falling short in the Women’s Champions League final and Spain’s defeat to England in the Euro 2025 decider.
The 27-year-old midfielder remains the heartbeat of both club and country. “None of this would be possible without my teammates,” she said. “These awards reflect the work of everyone around me.”
Her achievement places her in elite company, joining Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as the only players in history to win three consecutive Ballon d’Or titles.
Other Major Winners
- Kopa Trophy (Best Young Male): Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)
- Kopa Trophy (Best Young Female): Vicky Lopez (Barcelona/Spain)
- Yashin Trophy (Best Men’s Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City/Italy)
- Yashin Trophy (Best Women’s Goalkeeper): Hannah Hampton (Chelsea/England)
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer – Men): Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal/Sweden)
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer – Women): Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland)
- Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
- Women’s Club of the Year: Arsenal
- Women’s Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman (England)
- Socrates Award (Social Contribution): Xana Foundation
Dembele’s triumph marks a new chapter in the Ballon d’Or story, ending years of dominance by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and more recently Rodri. For PSG, it’s validation of their transformation into genuine European giants.
As for Bonmati, her third consecutive crown not only reinforces her status as the best player in women’s football today but also sets a benchmark of consistency that may be hard to match in the coming years.
