Paris Saint-Germain star, Ousmane Dembele, clinched the 2025 Ballon d’Or on Monday night and used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to Lionel Messi.
The Frenchman edged Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal to the prestigious award, with PSG teammate Vitinha completing the podium in third place.
In his acceptance speech, Dembélé expressed gratitude to both his current and former clubs, while paying special tribute to Lionel Messi, his ex-teammate at Barcelona and the record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“This is an award thanks to the collective. I want to thank all my teammates,” he said.
“I want to thank Barcelona, the club of my dreams. I played with Lionel Messi, and I want to thank him too. To have been able to play with him…I have learned so much.”
Dembélé’s triumph is the pinnacle of a career that once appeared to be derailed by recurring injuries and inconsistency.
Signed by Barcelona in 2017 for a then-record fee of €105 million from Borussia Dortmund, he endured several frustrating campaigns plagued by fitness setbacks. However, his flashes of brilliance always hinted at the potential to dominate the biggest stages.
The 28-year-old’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 proved to be the turning point. Last season, Dembélé enjoyed his most productive campaign yet, scoring 26 goals and providing 18 assists across all competitions.
His electric dribbling, pace, and improved end product made him one of the most decisive players in Europe, particularly in PSG’s Champions League run, where he delivered crucial goals in the knockout rounds.
His Ballon d’Or win not only cements his return to the elite level but also validates the patience of those who believed in his talent through years of adversity.
For PSG, it marks yet another milestone in their bid to establish themselves as Europe’s dominant force, with two of their stars finishing in the top three.
Dembélé now joins the ranks of French greats such as Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema in lifting the Ballon d’Or, his name forever etched among football’s immortals.
