Paris was the stage for Ousmane Dembele’s long-awaited coronation on Monday night, as the Paris Saint-Germain forward broke down in tears upon winning his first Ballon d’Or. The 28-year-old Frenchman capped off a sensational season in which he scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists across 53 matches, leading PSG to a historic treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup.
The moment was even more poignant as Dembele, currently sidelined through injury, stood on stage with his mother and received the award from Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. “What I have just experienced is exceptional, I have no words for it,” said Dembele, visibly emotional. “PSG is an incredible family. We have practically won everything together, and this trophy belongs to the team as much as it does to me.”
His triumph makes him only the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or, and the first since Karim Benzema in 2022. For a player once written off as injury-prone and inconsistent, the accolade marked the completion of a remarkable turnaround.
PSG’s Dominance at the Ceremony
Dembele’s victory was part of a wider night of success for PSG, who were named Team of the Year, with manager Luis Enrique crowned Coach of the Year. Five of the top ten players were from the French champions, including Vitinha (third), Achraf Hakimi (sixth), Gianluigi Donnarumma (ninth), and Nuno Mendes (10th).
Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, just 18, finished second in the voting but consoled himself by lifting the Kopa Trophy for best young player. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah secured fourth place, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer finished eighth. Last year’s winner, Manchester City’s Rodri, did not make the shortlist after an injury-hit season.
For PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the recognition was further validation of a team rebuilt after Kylian Mbappe’s departure in 2024. “This shows the spirit of our club,” he said. “Dembele represents what we stand for – resilience, hard work, and collective ambition.”
The Tactical Shift that Changed Everything
Much of Dembele’s resurgence has been attributed to Luis Enrique’s bold decision in December 2024 to move him from the right wing to a central attacking role. At that stage, Dembele had scored just five goals all season. From then on, he netted 30 more, thriving in a false nine position that gave him both creative freedom and finishing responsibility.
Enrique’s trust proved decisive. With Mbappe gone to Real Madrid, PSG needed a new talisman, and Dembele embraced the role with devastating effect. His 51 goal involvements in a single campaign more than doubled his previous best and underscored his transformation from creator to finisher.
Behind the tactical switch was also a psychological one: Dembele was told to be more selfish in front of goal, a directive that encouraged him to shoot more and rely less on providing assists. The result was not just collective silverware for PSG, but also individual recognition on football’s grandest stage.
Dembele Overcoming Injuries and Inconsistency
Dembele’s road to glory was anything but smooth. His Barcelona years were plagued by 14 separate muscle injuries, disciplinary fines, and doubts about his professionalism. Once labelled as a wasted talent, his future looked uncertain.
However, personal milestones proved pivotal. After marrying in 2021 and becoming a father, Dembele’s lifestyle changed drastically. He worked closely with physiotherapists, nutritionists, and fitness staff to stay in peak condition. “He grew up,” one former coach remarked. “He learned discipline, and he found balance in his personal life.”
The result was a player who finally harnessed his natural dribbling and pace with consistency. For PSG, signed at a bargain £43.5m in 2023 after Barcelona’s record £135.5m gamble faltered, the turnaround has been nothing short of extraordinary.
A French Star Fulfills His Promise
Dembele’s Ballon d’Or win resonates beyond his club. It restores French pride in a competition long dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and later by Benzema. For fans who watched his early promise at Rennes and Dortmund, it is a vindication of the belief that he could be among the world’s best.
As the tears rolled down his face in Paris, it was clear Dembele had lived up to the prophecy once set out by former Barcelona coach Xavi, who in 2021 declared: “Dembele can be the best in the world.” Few believed it then. Today, the evidence is undeniable.
For PSG, the win underscores their new identity – no longer reliant on one superstar, but thriving as a collective force with Dembele at the heart of it. And for the man himself, it marks the culmination of a journey defined by setbacks, sacrifice, and finally, redemption.
