Tearful Ousmane Dembele dedicates Ballon d’Or to PSG and fans

PARIS – Paris Saint-Germain’s France international Ousmane Dembele said winning the Ballon d’Or was never a personal goal, but admitted he could not hold back tears when he spoke about his family after being named the world’s best player on Sept 22.

The forward became the first Frenchman since Karim Benzema in 2022 to lift the prize, after helping PSG claim their maiden Champions League crown last season.

“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,” Dembele told Reuters after beating Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal to the prize.

The 28-year-old added that while he never set out to target individual honours, the award was special.

“It was never a personal objective. On an individual level, having a trophy like this is magnificent. But when it happens, of course, you’re happy, you’re delighted,” he said.

Asked whether the accolade was the “people’s Ballon d’Or”, a description once used by Benzema, Dembele replied: “Benzema is the people’s Ballon d’Or, the first one, and I am the second.”

He insisted the award also belonged to his club.

“Yes, of course, it’s for the team. For all the people who are fans of me, all the Parisian supporters, the whole club, the staff and the players,” he said.

Dembele, who was part of the France team who won the World Cup in 2018, scored 35 goals in all competitions as PSG claimed a French league and cup double as well as winning the Champions League.

PSG were named team of the season, Luis Enrique was voted best coach and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who left for Manchester City in the close season, was recognised as top goalkeeper with the Yashin trophy.

“It’s the result of hard work, by everyone at the club,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “We’ve got young players and stars who work for the team. It’s a collective achievement.”

The 18-year-old Yamal, who was a teammate of Dembele’s at Barcelona when he first broke through in 2023, did win the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged under 21 – the second year running he has taken that award.

Spain’s Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s top prize for the third year in a row.

The 27-year-old edged out her international teammate Mariona Caldentey, whom she played with in the Spain side beaten on penalties by England in the Women’s Euro 2025 final.

“I am very proud,” said Bonmati, who credited her teammates for their role in her personal triumph.

“I think I am here for the third consecutive time because of the teams I play in, so all of this is because of them.”

The Ballon d’Or is voted for by a panel of journalists, one from each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa world rankings for the men and from the top 50 for the women. REUTERS, AFP