Ousmane Dembélé Makes New History in French Football by Winning Ballon d'Or

 Staff Reporter | PNN

On a glittering night in Paris, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) French star Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s Ballon d’Or. At the ceremony held at Théâtre du Châtelet, the audience gave a standing ovation when his name was announced, while fans outside celebrated with fireworks.

Dembélé’s consecutive Champions League victories and outstanding performances since Christmas earned him this recognition. Last season, in a new midfield role, he scored 25 goals in just 20 matches. His performance in the final against Inter Milan was the highlight of the tournament and drew widespread praise.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Dembélé could not hold back tears while accepting the award. He expressed gratitude to everyone from his childhood city to his agent and even called his mother on stage to share the moment of success with her.

In the women’s category, Spain’s Aitana Bonmati won the Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive time. Despite losing the final to Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, her consistent performance earned her the top honor once again.

It was also a memorable night for England. Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman won the Johan Cruyff Best Coach award, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton received the inaugural women’s Yashin Trophy. Arsenal was recognized as the club of the year.

Among men’s goalkeepers, Gianluigi Donnarumma won the Yashin Trophy, while Arsenal’s Victor Gioacres was the top scorer and received the Gerd Müller Trophy.

This event not only marks a milestone in Dembélé’s career but also adds a unique chapter to the history of French football. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, present at the ceremony, said, “Today’s victory is not just for Dembélé but also for French football and Paris.”