Dembele wins his first Ballon d'Or trophy after an incredible season at PSG. Image by AP via FirstPost
(The Post News)– The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony lit up the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday night, honoring the very best football talent from across the globe. The spotlight fell on Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who walked away with the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards, respectively.
It was a closed race on the men’s side, with Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and PSG’s midfield maestro Vitinha running Dembélé close. But it was the French winger, after an extraordinary season with PSG, who claimed football’s most prestigious individual prize. “I really don’t have the words. It was an incredible season with PSG,” Dembélé said after lifting the trophy.
Ballon d’Or 2025: Top 10 Best Men
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was the best-placed Premier League player, finishing fourth in the final rankings. The men’s top 10 was dominated by PSG, who had five players on the list, underlining their remarkable campaign in which they lifted both the Champions League and Ligue 1 titles. Alongside Dembélé and Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma (now with Manchester City), and Nuno Mendes also made the cut. The rest of the top 10 featured Yamal, Salah, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
On the women’s side, Bonmatí, already one of the most decorated players of her generation, added another Ballon d’Or to her glittering collection. She was joined on the podium by club teammate Mariona Caldentey and England striker Alessia Russo.
The night also celebrated other standout performers: PSG was crowned Club of the Year, while Arsenal was recognized as the Women’s Club of the Year. Rising star Lamine Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy for best U-21 men’s player, with Spain’s Vicky López picking up the inaugural Women’s Kopa Trophy. Portugal’s Viktor Gyökeres won the Gerd Müller Trophy for top striker, while Poland’s Ewa Pajor took the women’s version.
Between the posts, Gianluigi Donnarumma was named the best goalkeeper with the Yashin Trophy, beating Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Bayern’s Yann Sommer. On the women’s side, England’s Hannah Hampton scooped the award ahead of Ann-Katrin Berger and Cata Coll.
The coaching honours went to PSG boss Luis Enrique, who masterminded the club’s European triumph, and Sarina Wiegman, who continues to set the standard in the women’s game.
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