Dembele Stuns Football World by Edging Out Rising Star Yamal for 2025 Ballon d'Or Glory
The world's most coveted individual soccer honor has found a new recipient, as Ousmane Dembélé has been selected as the 2025 men's Ballon d'Or champion.
The French star secured the prestigious accolade after an exceptional 2024–25 campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, edging out Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who finished second, and PSG teammate Vitinha, who rounded out the top three.
While Dembélé and Yamal were broadly viewed as the leading candidates for this year's honor, a surprise outcome wasn't expected in 2025. The PSG attacker entered the 69th annual gala as the clear frontrunner.
As typically occurs with the Ballon d'Or, some will question the chosen recipient and debate is inherent to the award—look no further than the previous year when Manchester City's Rodri triumphed over Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior for the title.
Nevertheless, it's clear that this year, despite Yamal's extraordinary displays throughout the past season and however much it might disappoint Barcelona supporters, Dembélé truly merits the 2025 Ballon d'Or recognition.
Here's the breakdown of how Dembélé surpassed Yamal to earn recognition as the planet's finest player.
Offensive Production
It's fitting to examine the attacking statistics of both Dembélé and Yamal since both are forward players regularly completing offensive plays. Scoring involvement was destined to be crucial in deciding the 2025 Ballon d'Or recipient.
Dembélé enjoyed his most productive scoring campaign ever, netting 35 times in 53 appearances across all tournaments for PSG during 2024–25. Only Kylian Mbappé and Robert Lewandowski among players in Europe's premier five leagues registered more non-penalty strikes than Dembélé's 32 across all competitions in 2024–25, according to Opta.
The French forward also contributed 16 assists, bringing his complete 2024–25 goal involvement total to 51. From January 2025 through May's Champions League final, no player in Europe's top five leagues recorded more goal involvements than Dembélé's 33. He concluded as Ligue 1's leading scorer with 21 strikes.
Conversely, Yamal concluded the campaign with 18 goals across all competitions, though he managed just nine strikes in La Liga action. The Spanish talent holds the advantage in assists during 2024–25 with his 25 across all tournaments. Yet, when calculating total goal involvements, Dembélé's 51 exceed Yamal's 43 despite playing two fewer matches last season.
Additionally, in the Champions League, the sole competition both Dembélé and Yamal participated in last term, the PSG star recorded eight goals and six assists compared to five goals and four assists from the Barcelona creator.
Collective Achievements
Securing trophies at both club and national levels represents arguably the most significant element in Ballon d'Or voting, particularly in recent years.
In this category, Dembélé and Yamal are virtually matched except for the season's most significant prize.
Paris Saint-Germain maintained their dominance in French football, capturing Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup). Likewise, Barcelona achieved their inaugural domestic treble, claiming La Liga, the Copa Del Rey and the Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup).
However, Dembélé's PSG captured the club's maiden Champions League title. The Parisians demolished Inter Milan—the squad that knocked out Barcelona in the semifinals—5–0 in the 2024–25 final, with Dembélé providing two assists.
The 28-year-old attacker was the key figure in PSG's championship run. His previously mentioned 14 goal involvements in the Champions League—nine occurring in knockout stages—surpassed any other player on Luis Enrique's squad by five.
The same cannot be stated for Yamal, whose nine Champions League goal contributions fall short compared to Barcelona colleague Raphinha, who accumulated 22 goal involvements. Robert Lewandowski also exceeded Yamal's European goal contributions for Barcelona with his 11 strikes.
Moreover, Dembélé earned 2024–25 Ligue 1 and Champions League player of the season honors. Meanwhile in La Liga, Raphinha received that distinction ahead of Yamal.
International success escaped both Dembélé and Yamal last term as Portugal secured the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League.
Current Excellence vs. Future Potential
At merely 18 years old, Yamal had the chance to become the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in history. The dazzling teenager has captivated the globe and is universally expected to rank among the world's elite for years ahead. There's no doubt the Spaniard was the year's outstanding young player, but he simply wasn't the top overall performer during 2024–25, despite his father's objections.
Ten years ago, Dembélé, like Yamal, was regarded as a rough gem and among the sport's most promising young talents. Now, at 28 and following numerous obstacles, the Frenchman has successfully assembled all the pieces to fulfill his promise.
Operating as a false nine in PSG's versatile and flowing attack, a mature, concentrated, energetic and lethal version of Dembélé emerged and ruled the sport in 2024–25. Put simply, he was the premier player for the world's top team last season.
Several Ballon d'Or victories could reasonably await Yamal in upcoming years, but in 2025, considering last term's events, no player earned recognition as the world's best more than Dembélé.