Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, capping an extraordinary career revival after years of struggles with injuries at Barcelona.
Early Hype and Struggles at Barcelona
Dembele moved from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona in 2017 for €105m (up to €147m with add-ons), arriving as one of Europe’s brightest young talents. Handed Neymar’s iconic No.11 shirt, he was tipped to become a Camp Nou legend.
However, his Barcelona career was blighted by 14 muscle injuries, keeping him sidelined for over 780 days in total. Despite flashes of brilliance and three La Liga titles, he never fulfilled his full potential at the club.
The Turning Point: PSG Move in 2023
Barcelona offloaded Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for £43.5m. At PSG, under Luis Enrique’s guidance, he rediscovered his best form and matured into a world-class forward.
Ballon d’Or-Winning Season
In the 2024–25 season, Dembele was unstoppable:
- 35 goals in 53 games
- 21 goals and 8 assists in Ligue 1
- 8 Champions League goals, including decisive strikes in the knockout stages
His performances were instrumental in PSG’s historic first Champions League title and a domestic double.
An Emotional Triumph
Receiving the award in Paris from legend Ronaldinho, Dembele was visibly emotional:
“What just happened to me is incredible. I’m speechless. It’s been an amazing season with PSG. I’ve experienced incredible things, and I’m a little nervous; it’s not easy.”
He credited PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the staff, and especially coach Luis Enrique, whom he described as “like a father” for reigniting his career.
