Ballon d’Or 2025: Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmatí claim top honours

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s midfield maestro Aitana Bonmatí have been crowned winners of the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.

Dembele, 28, claimed his first Ballon d’Or after a remarkable season in which he inspired PSG to their maiden Champions League triumph, alongside a French league and cup double.

Converted into a centre-forward following Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid, he thrived under Luis Enrique, scoring 35 goals in all competitions, including a starring role in the 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

“It was an incredible season with PSG,” an emotional Dembélé said on stage at the Théâtre du Châtelet. “This is an individual award, but it really belongs to the whole team. We worked so hard to achieve the dream of winning the Champions League.”

Dembele edged Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal into second place, succeeding Rodri as the latest winner of football’s most prestigious individual honour.

Meanwhile, Bonmatí made history by winning the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third consecutive year, the first woman ever to do so. The 27-year-old Barcelona and Spain midfielder joined Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as the only players to achieve a three-peat in the award’s history.

“It’s incredible, I never imagined this as a child,” Bonmatí said. “My idols were players like Xavi and Iniesta, but I never thought women’s football could reach this level. These awards are about the collective effort; my teammates make this possible.”

Ballon d’Or 2025 Winners:

Women’s Kopa Trophy: Vicky López – Spain, Barcelona

Men’s Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal – Spain, Barcelona

Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Sarina Wiegman – England

Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Luis Enrique – Paris Saint-Germain

Women’s Yashin Trophy: Hannah Hampton – England, Chelsea

Men’s Yashin Trophy: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Italy, Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City

Women’s Gerd Muller Trophy: Ewa Pajor – Poland, Barcelona

Men’s Gerd Muller Trophy: Viktor Gyokeres – Sweden, Sport/Arsenal

Women’s Club of the Year: Arsenal

Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain

Socrates Award: Xana Foundation

Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí – Spain, Barcelona

Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembéle – France, Paris Saint-Germain

Anthony Nlebem

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.