Paris Saint-Germain forward, Ousmane Dembélé, has been crowned Ballon d’Or winner for the very first time, marking a milestone in his career as he was officially recognised as the world’s best player.
The 28-year-old Frenchman enjoyed a sensational 2023/24 campaign, firing 35 goals and providing 14 assists in 53 appearances to spearhead PSG’s march to a historic treble, a Ligue 1 crown, domestic cup success, and the club’s maiden Champions League triumph.
His clinical finishing and dazzling wing play also earned him the Ligue 1 Golden Boot with 21 goals, while he scooped both the French top-flight Player of the Year and the Champions League Player of the Year awards.
Dembélé’s brilliance extended beyond Europe as he helped PSG reach the FIFA Club World Cup final, where they narrowly lost to Chelsea in New Jersey.
His consistency and ability to rise to the big occasions placed him ahead of prodigious Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who finished runner-up in the prestigious vote.
Despite PSG being in action against Marseille on Monday night, the French forward was able to attend the glitzy ceremony in Paris, where he accepted the golden trophy.
Ironically, he was unavailable for that match due to an injury setback, watching from the sidelines as PSG fell 1-0 at home in a fixture rescheduled after a storm disruption.
This triumph represents a remarkable turnaround in Dembélé’s career, once marred by injuries and inconsistency during his time at Barcelona.
His rise to Ballon d’Or glory now places him among the sport’s most elite names, cementing his status as a national hero in France and giving PSG a new icon to celebrate.
