In international football, there is no individual award more coveted than the Ballon d’Or. In what was one of the most wide-open races for the prestigious honor, the 2025 Ballon d’Or went to French and PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé after an incredible season in the French capital. After a rough start that saw him benched for a short period, Dembélé exploded into form and led the Parisian outfit to a historic season, finishing the 2024–2025 campaign with 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
With his brilliance and leadership, PSG went on to win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and place second in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup. However, his best highlights undoubtedly came in the UEFA Champions League.
In what proved to be PSG’s first Champions League victory, Dembélé was crucial en route to the club’s first-ever European crown and treble. He spearheaded a comeback against Manchester City to propel PSG into the knockout stage. Against Liverpool in the Round of 16, he scored a goal and a penalty in the decisive shootout to advance to the quarterfinals. He then scored the opening goal against Arsenal in the semifinals before putting up two assists in PSG’s 5-0 demolition over Inter Milan in the final.
With his blend of creativity, clutch performances, and goalscoring prowess, it’s no wonder Dembélé was crowned with football’s highest honor. Dylan Waimrin ‘26 agreed, saying, “Dembélé was the deserved winner. He proved it with both his team’s success and the crazy stats he managed to put up.”
However, some critics believe the award should have gone to another player. Among the top contenders were Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, and Raphinha. In the official rankings, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal placed second after another outstanding season with Barcelona. With magical dribbling and skills on the wing, his performances were central to Barcelona’s LaLiga triumph and run to the Champions League semifinals.
Another contender from the Catalan club, Raphinha, posted even better numbers than Yamal but was controversially ranked fifth. In his most impressive season yet, Raphinha tallied 34 goals and 26 assists in 57 appearances. Raphinha also had clutch moments, including goals in the Champions League and El Clásico; and if not for last-minute heroics by Inter Milan, his goal would have sent Barcelona to the Champions League final.
Some believe the rankings were unfair, with Amrit Lalwani ‘26 stating, “Raphinha should have been second place—Barcelona would never have performed well without him. He’s too valuable to the team.”
In the end, while several players delivered world-class seasons, the 2025 Ballon d’Or ultimately reflected Dembélé’s influence during PSG’s historic run. His resurgence from being labeled a “flop” to spearheading PSG’s treble-winning campaign defined his win as one of redemption and perseverance.
Though stars like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Mohamed Salah made strong cases, it was Dembélé’s consistency in the biggest moments that separated him from the rest. Love him or doubt him, his 2024–2025 season will be remembered as the year he fulfilled his long-awaited potential and etched his name into football history.
Raphinha and Mohamed Salah made strong cases of their own, but it was Dembélé’s consistency in the biggest moments that separated him from the rest. Love him or doubt him, his 2024–2025 season will be remembered as the year he fulfilled his long-awaited potential and etched his name into football history forever, joining the likes of history’s greats.
