Ousmane Dembélé has clinched the Ballon d’Or, earning recognition for guiding Paris Saint-Germain to their maiden Champions League triumph, while Aitana Bonmatí secured the women’s award for the third consecutive year on Monday.
Dembélé, who follows Manchester City’s Rodri, became the sixth Frenchman to claim the honor, joining legends Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema.
Bonmatí once again stood out among the women, finishing ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. Her achievement puts her in elite company, as she is now only the third player ever to win the award three years running, alongside Platini (1983–85) and Lionel Messi (2009–12).
For Dembélé, the award marks a stunning turnaround. Dropped by PSG coach Luis Enrique last season over disciplinary issues, he flourished after being moved into a central striker role. From there, he became a prolific scorer and the driving force behind PSG’s historic Champions League run, during which the club also secured a quadruple.
His performance in the Champions League final was especially lauded, with praise for his pressing and defensive work in PSG’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan.
The French star edged out teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, who impressed with Barcelona’s La Liga and Copa del Rey victories and a Champions League semifinal appearance, while also playing a pivotal role in Spain’s 2024 European Championship win.
Leave your comments
Login to post a comment
Post comment as a guest