Ousmane Dembélé: 10 Things to Know About the Ballon d’Or Winner

Ousmane Dembélé cemented his legacy in football on September 22, 2025, by winning the coveted Ballon d’Or at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The Paris Saint-Germain forward dominated the voting, finishing more than 300 points ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. This triumph made him the sixth Frenchman to claim the award, joining legends like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry.

His journey was a rollercoaster of dazzling talent, persistent injuries, and a triumphant reinvention. Here are 10 essential facts about the man who turned his career around to become the best in the world.

The Path to Glory

1. Humble Beginnings as a Prodigy

Born on May 15, 1997, in Vernon, France, to a Malian father and Mauritanian mother, Dembélé was raised in Évreux. He started his football education at Évreux FC at age 8. His incredible pace and flair on the ball quickly marked him as a talent to watch. By the age of 13, he moved to the famous Rennes academy, setting the stage for his professional career.

2. Early Breakout at Rennes and Dortmund

Dembélé’s senior career ignited at Rennes in the 2015-16 season. As an 18-year-old, he scored eight goals in just 26 Ligue 1 appearances. This exceptional form earned him a €15 million move to Borussia Dortmund in 2016. In Germany, he formed a potent attack with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, helping the team secure the German Cup and reach the 2017 Champions League final.

3. The Barcelona Rollercoaster

In 2017, Barcelona paid a staggering €105 million (plus €40 million in add-ons) to sign Dembélé as Neymar’s replacement. While his flashes of brilliance led some to dub him the “next Messi,” his time at Camp Nou was severely disrupted by injuries. He missed nearly 100 games over four seasons. Despite this, he tallied 40 goals and 43 assists in 185 appearances for the club.

4. Reinvention Under Luis Enrique at PSG

A fresh start came in 2023 with a €50 million return to Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain. Initially, he struggled to fully integrate, even clashing with new boss Luis Enrique over discipline. However, Enrique saw the potential in shifting Dembélé from a pure winger to a more central, goal-scoring forward—a tactical masterstroke that fueled his success.

5. The Historic 2024-25 Quadruple Season

The 2024-25 campaign was a phenomenal turnaround. Dembélé finished as a joint-top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals and added 12 goals in the Champions League. He was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Season. By focusing on simpler finishes—which he called learning to “love tap-ins”—he spearheaded PSG’s historic haul of the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and their maiden Champions League title in May 2025.

Defining Moments and Achievements

6. The Clutch Factor: Arsenal Screamer

A critical moment in his Ballon d’Or campaign was his spectacular match-winning goal against Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal first leg. His long-range curling shot proved his ability to deliver in the biggest moments, turning doubters into believers and powering PSG into the final.

7. International Redemption with France

After a mixed record in the 2022 World Cup (cut short by injury) and Euro 2024, Dembélé found redemption with the French national team. Following 2024, he became a fixture under Didier Deschamps, contributing six goals and eight assists in 15 caps, blending seamlessly with Kylian Mbappé in France’s successful Nations League campaign.

8. The Manchester City Blueprint

PSG’s season pivoted on a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Manchester City in the group stage. Dembélé credits this game as the “moment that set us on course,” scoring twice to outshine both Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. This win demonstrated the tactical intelligence and belief Luis Enrique instilled, setting the foundation for their trophy-laden year.

9. The Ballon d’Or Victory over Yamal

The 2025 race was highly anticipated, but Dembélé won decisively, finishing over 300 points ahead of the phenomenal 18-year-old Lamine Yamal (who secured the Kopa Trophy). While Yamal had La Liga and Euro 2025 success, voters prioritized Dembélé’s unprecedented quadruple silverware haul. PSG teammate Vitinha came in third, with Mohamed Salah fourth.

10. A Triumph of Resilience

Dembélé’s win is seen by many as a powerful message that “nothing is set.” It’s a testament to the belief that raw talent can be unlocked through hard work and tactical discipline, even after years of significant setbacks and injury woes. Holding the golden ball, he became the first Ligue 1-based player to win the award since 1991, solidifying his position as a complete, world-class player at 28 years old.

Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or is not just an award; it’s the ultimate payoff for a career defined by resilience and reinvention.

What do you think—was the award deserved, or should Yamal have won?