Did PSG Star Dembele Just Win the Ballon d’Or While Bonmati Completes Her Hat-Trick?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ousmane Dembele won the men’s Ballon d’Or for his outstanding performance.
- Aitana Bonmati secured her third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or.
- Dembele scored a total of 35 goals this season.
- Both players exemplified resilience and teamwork.
- Bonmati overcame health challenges to achieve her success.
Paris, Sep 23 (NationPress) Ousmane Dembele, the France forward, celebrated an extraordinary season by clinching the Ballon d’Or on Monday, the most esteemed individual accolade in football, after leading Paris Saint-Germain to their inaugural Champions League victory.
The 28-year-old triumphed over Barcelona's young sensation Lamine Yamal at a dazzling ceremony in Paris, taking over from last year's winner, Manchester City's and Spain's Rodri. Dembele’s triumph follows a prolific season where he netted 35 goals across all competitions, propelling PSG to a historic treble that included the Champions League, the French league, and the domestic cup.
“I am truly at a loss for words. This has been an incredible season with PSG,” said an emotional Dembele, who referred to coach Luis Enrique as “like a father.”
“While this is an individual honor, it was the team that truly earned it,” he added. “The Ballon d’Or has never been a primary goal for me in my career, but I dedicated myself to help the team secure the Champions League.”
Once a volatile winger at Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, Dembele has evolved into PSG’s key player. He was among nine nominees from their treble-winning squad, underscoring the club's dominance in European football last season.
Runner-up Lamine Yamal, just 18 years old, was recognized for his swift ascent. The forward from Spain and Barcelona also received the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, marking his second consecutive win and solidifying his place as one of football’s most promising talents.
In the women's category, Aitana Bonmati, the playmaker for Barcelona and Spain, secured the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive year. The 27-year-old narrowly surpassed compatriot Mariona Caldentey, who shone for Arsenal and scored in the Women’s Champions League final.
Bonmati experienced a mixed year: named the player of the tournament at Euro 2025, where Spain lost to England on penalties in the final, she also faced defeat in the Women’s Champions League finals against Caldentey’s Arsenal. Her season was even more notable considering she missed Spain’s first two Euro matches due to recovery from viral meningitis.