Ousmane Dembele Shines as PSG Dominates Ballon d'Or Night

The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris was full of anticipation on Tuesday night when Ousmane Dembélé scooped the coveted Ballon d'Or to become the first Frenchman to take the prize since Karim Benzema in 2022.

The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker, aged 28, with lightning-fast speed and creative flair, has taken his team to a record-breaking Champions League victory, and a dream season also included a Ligue 1 title and French Cup.

Dembélé, beaming as he accepted the golden trophy from Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, couldn’t hide his joy. “This feels incredible,” he said, his voice warm with gratitude."We have practically won everything together. This individual trophy is one the team has won collectively."

He made an emotional shout to his mother, his boyhood club Stade Rennais, and the French national team, vowing to win the World Cup next year. Dembélé, who had been sluggish due to the injuries, has now evolved into a superstar under the PSG coach, Luis Enrique. 

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His 20 assists and 15 goals last year shredded the defenses, which earned him the reputation as the key of the PSG attack. He is our spark, Enrique said, smiling. The night was a PSG party: Enrique won Best Coach, former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (now at Manchester City) took home the Yashin Trophy, and the club was named Team of the Season for their unbeatable spirit.

On the women’s side, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí won her third straight Ballon d'Or Féminin. The 27-year-old midfielder, who racked up 18 goals and 22 assists, spoke humbly: "I'm amazed and proud because it's a lot of hard work. I'm here for the third time in a row because of the teams I've played with." Despite losing the Champions League final, her brilliance was undeniable.

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PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi summed it up: “This is what happens when everyone at the club works together. Our young stars and veterans are all in it for the team.” As confetti fell, the night felt like a turning point. With Messi and Ronaldo’s era fading, Dembélé and PSG are writing football’s next chapter.