Once upon a time, the Ballon d’Or was dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, in recent years, that era has ended, giving rise to new champions. On Monday night, a new star emerged as 28-year-old French forward Ousmane Dembele claimed the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
Ousmane Dembele, playing for PSG, became the sixth French player to win this prestigious award, joining legends like Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema. A fierce rivalry had developed between Dembele and young talent Lamine Yamal, with Dembele ultimately securing the honor.
Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
The award was presented by the French magazine ‘France Football’ during a grand ceremony in Paris on September 22. Dembele’s outstanding season included 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 matches, helping PSG secure a historic treble. Notably, he scored 8 goals in their Champions League triumph, cementing his status as the world’s best player this year.
On the women’s side, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati of Spain won the Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive time a record unmatched in women’s football.
Emotional moments followed Ousmane Dembele’s win as he shared his joy with his mother, saying, “We did this together,” while holding the trophy. Overcome with emotion, he thanked PSG for signing him in 2023 and praised his teammates, emphasizing that the award was a collective achievement, not just personal success.
