Ousmane Dembélé has reached the pinnacle of football. After a phenomenal season with Paris Saint-Germain — delivering 33 goals, 12 assists, and lifting four trophies — the French forward has been crowned the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner, the highest honour in the sport.
Taking to social media after receiving the award, Dembélé shared photos from the ceremony along with a heartfelt message: “So much joy, pride, and emotion. A dream come true. Thank you to everyone who has always supported me throughout this journey.”
To celebrate his incredible achievement, here are five things you might not know about the new Ballon d’Or holder:
1. His roots run deep in West Africa
Though born in France, Dembélé’s heritage is Malian on his father’s side and Mauritanian-Senegalese from his mother, Fatimata. She has been a constant pillar in his career, from relocating with him to Rennes as a teenager to keeping him grounded as fame followed.
2. Both feet, same magic
Few players in world football are as naturally two-footed as Dembélé. He strikes, dribbles, and creates with either foot, making him unpredictable and almost impossible to defend against.
3. Faith shapes his journey
A devout Muslim, Dembélé’s faith guides much of his life. After winning the 2018 World Cup with France, he donated his tournament earnings to help build a mosque in his mother’s hometown in Mauritania. He often prays before matches and has even played during Ramadan while fasting.
4. Once the second most expensive player in the world
In 2017, Barcelona signed him from Borussia Dortmund for a staggering £135 million, making him the second costliest footballer ever at that time. Despite injury setbacks in Spain, he still netted 40 goals before making the switch to PSG.
5. Record-breaking performances
Earlier this year, he became the first PSG player to score hat-tricks in back-to-back official matches — one in the Champions League against Stuttgart, followed by another in Ligue 1 against Brest.
With the Ballon d’Or now in his hands, Dembélé has etched his name among football’s greats — and the journey feels far from over.
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