Ousmane Dembélé Wins 2025 Ballon d’Or, Edging Yamal; Bonmatí Makes History with Third Straight
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony crowned two iconic winners, marking a night of personal triumph and historic milestones. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé clinched the men’s award, narrowly beating Barcelona’s prodigy Lamine Yamal. For the women, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí etched her name into the history books by securing an unprecedented third consecutive Ballon d’Or.
Dembélé’s Redemption Arc Culminates in Football’s Highest Honor
Ousmane Dembélé’s journey to the 2025 Ballon d’Or is a story of transformation. Once criticized for inconsistency, the French winger was reinvented by PSG coach Luis Enrique as a central striker. This tactical shift unlocked a new level of productivity, making him the talisman for PSG’s most successful season ever.
The cornerstone of Dembélé’s claim was his instrumental role in delivering Paris Saint-Germain’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title. His season-long statistics were staggering: 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions. In Europe’s premier club competition, he was even more decisive, contributing 8 goals and 6 assists in just 15 matches, proving his worth on the biggest stage.
This victory places Dembélé among French footballing royalty. He becomes only the sixth Frenchman to win the award, joining legends Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema.
Yamal’s Stellar Season Sets Stage for Future Glory
Dembélé’s triumph was hard-fought, with his closest challenger being Barcelona’s 18-year-old sensation, Lamine Yamal. Yamal enjoyed a phenomenal season, leading Barcelona to a La Liga and Copa del Rey double and a deep run into the Champions League semi-finals. His precocious talent and consistency at such a young age made him a formidable contender, underscoring his status as the future of the sport. For the second year running, Yamal was rightly awarded the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 male player, signaling that his time on the Ballon d’Or podium is likely far from over.
Aitana Bonmatí Enters Uncharted Territory with Historic Three-Peat
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí achieved what no female player has ever done: win the Ballon d’Or three years in a row. This remarkable feat places her in an elite group alongside male icons Michel Platini and Lionel Messi, the only other players to achieve a three-peat.
Bonmatí’s 2024-25 season was a testament to her resilience and unparalleled skill. She led FC Barcelona Femení to a domestic treble and was pivotal in their journey to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, which they narrowly lost to Arsenal. Her year was also marked by incredible personal fortitude; after being hospitalized with viral meningitis, she made a triumphant return to captain Spain and was named the best player of the Women’s European Championship.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Bonmatí paid homage to her club, stating, “I am so grateful to Barcelona – it is the club of my life.”
Complete List of 2025 Ballon d’Or Award Winners
The evening also celebrated excellence across other key categories:
Men’s Best Goalkeeper (Lev Yashin Trophy): Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) was recognized for his crucial saves throughout PSG’s Champions League campaign.
Women’s Best Goalkeeper: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) won the award following a stellar season with both her club and the English national team.
Men’s Top Scorer (Gerd Müller Trophy): Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) was honored after a sensational season, netting 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 matches.
Women’s Top Scorer (Gerd Müller Trophy): Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) claimed the prize for her prolific goal-scoring.
Women’s Kopa Trophy (Best U-21): Barcelona’s Vicky Lopez was celebrated as the best young female player.
Men’s Best Coach: PSG’s Luis Enrique, the architect behind the club’s historic season.
Women’s Best Coach: Sarina Wiegman (England), honored for leading the Lionesses to European Championship glory.
Summary: A Night for the Record Books
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be remembered for its historic narratives. For Ousmane Dembélé, it was a crowning achievement after a season of career-defining performances that finally brought European glory to PSG. For Aitana Bonmatí, it was a night of breaking barriers and cementing her legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time. And in Lamine Yamal’s impressive second-place finish, we saw a thrilling glimpse into the future of the beautiful game.
