Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé could not hold back his emotions on Monday night as he was crowned the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or in Paris.
The 28-year-old Frenchman, who claimed the prestigious award for the first time in his career, received the honour in front of his wife and family. As he stepped on stage, Dembélé broke down in tears, thanking his mother for her unwavering support.
“To my mother, I want to thank you,” he said before pausing, overcome with emotion. “You have always been there for me, mama. To my family, we have experienced so much together. We have been through it all. We will always be together.”
The PSG star later admitted that he had not planned to cry but could not hold back his emotions once he spoke about his loved ones.
“I didn’t want to cry, but as soon as I started talking about my family, about the people who have been there for me, it came up and I couldn’t hold it back,” he confessed.
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Dembélé also dedicated the award to his club Paris Saint-Germain, insisting he does not chase personal glory. “This belongs to PSG. I always play for the team,” he said.
The French forward enjoyed a standout season, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists across competitions. He was instrumental in PSG’s historic Champions League triumph, their first-ever European crown. Head coach Luis Enrique had backed him ahead of the ceremony, describing him as the most deserving candidate.
Meanwhile, Spain and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí picked up her third straight Ballon d’Or Féminin, capping off another glittering year. PSG also celebrated multiple wins on the night, further underlining the club’s growing dominance on the global stage.