Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé has been named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, capping off a sensational year with his first-ever triumph in world football’s most prestigious individual award.

The 28-year-old French forward received the honor at a glittering ceremony in Paris on Monday night, fighting back tears as he held the golden trophy.

Dembélé was sidelined by injury and missed PSG’s league clash with Marseille, but that didn’t stop him from taking center stage on football’s biggest night.

Dembélé’s award comes after a breathtaking 2024/25 campaign in which he scored 35 goals and registered 14 assists in 53 appearances. His explosive form helped PSG secure an unprecedented treble, including a long-awaited first UEFA Champions League crown.

The former Barcelona winger finished joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, was crowned Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and also earned the Champions League Player of the Year award. He was instrumental in PSG’s run to the FIFA Club World Cup final, where the French champions fell to Chelsea in New Jersey.

In the Ballon d’Or race, Dembélé edged out rising Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal and other global stars, cementing his status as one of the game’s elite. His all-round brilliance and consistency across competitions drew widespread praise from fans, coaches, and pundits alike.

Despite PSG’s 1-0 home defeat to Marseille on Monday a rescheduled fixture due to storm disruption the night ultimately belonged to Dembélé, who celebrated a career-defining milestone and etched his name into football history.