Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí were named the winners of the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards in Paris on Monday night, as football’s most prestigious individual honors highlighted both a dramatic personal comeback and continued dominance at the top level.
Dembélé, 28, claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or after a resurgent season with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 25 goals in 20 games following a mid-season tactical shift. The French forward, once plagued by injuries and inconsistency during his time at Barcelona, delivered an emotional acceptance speech, thanking his family and club for their support during what he called “the hardest and most beautiful year” of his career.
Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or Féminin for the third consecutive year. Despite Barcelona falling short in the Champions League final and Spain finishing runners-up at the 2025 European Championship, Bonmatí was widely praised for her consistent brilliance and leadership on the field.
Other major awards included the Kopa Trophy for best young men’s player, awarded to 18-year-old Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, and the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, which went to PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma. Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton received the women’s Yashin Trophy, while Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres was honored with the Gerd Müller Trophy as top scorer.
Paris Saint-Germain was named Best Men’s Club of the Year, with Arsenal receiving the women’s equivalent. England manager Sarina Wiegman was awarded the Johan Cruyff Trophy for Best Women’s Coach.
This year’s ceremony marked a generational shift in world football, with rising stars stepping into the spotlight as long-standing legends such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were absent from the nominations for the first time in over 15 years.
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