- As Frenchman comparison with Lamine Yamal rages on
France International and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)’s forward Ousmane Dembele has finally emerged the Men’s Ballon d’Or winner for the 2024/25 season.
Amid varied opinions by pundits, the Frenchman on Monday night beat Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to claim the biggest individual award in world football at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
On the same night, Spain international, Aitana Bonmatí, also became the first player to win the Ballon d’Or Féminin (the women’s award) three times in consecutive years, edging past her national team colleague, Mariona Caldentey.
Earning glowing applause from many football fans across the globe as ‘a worthy winner’ of the 69th edition of the awards, the enterprising winger was the outright favourite to win the trophy after leading Les Parisiens to a fantastic European quadruple last season.
However, there are others who feel that his former Barcelona team-mate, Yamal was unfairly snubbed and should have been named as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner given his outstanding exploits last season.
For the Frenchman’s podium appearance, the odds to cart home the prized accolade were huge after his fantastic performances for the French national team and PSG which also won the UEFA Super Cup earlier this season besides the four trophies last season.
Dembele Vs Yamal’s Stats For 2024/25 Season
The 28-year-old’s 2024/25 season was defined by big-game impact and silverware, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists in 53 appearances last season as PSG secured a historic treble, including their maiden Champions League title.
Starring in the Champions League with eight goals and six assists in 15 matches, he piloted PSG to the title and won Player of the Season award. Domestically, he finished as Ligue 1’s joint top scorer with 21 goals while also delivering in the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions, rounding off a year of decisive contributions.
On the other hand, his rival Yamal was Barcelona’s creative force in La Liga. He recorded nine goals and 13 assists in 31 matches, finishing as the league’s top provider while completing 138 dribbles – the most in Europe.
His influence powered Barca to the league, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa, and he also made Champions League history as the youngest player to score and assist in the same knockout tie against Benfica.
Stars Clash In Champions League Tie Next Month
Away from all hugs and praises between Yamal and Dembele at the Ballon d’Or gala, their fierce rivalry will come head-to-head next month when Barcelona host PSG in the second game of the league stage in this year’s Champions League
However, their participation in the face-off is currently in doubt as both stars are dealing with injuries, and will be running against time to be fit for the October 1 encounter.
With the curtains drawn on this year’s award, many fans are excited and happy for the once injury-ridden forward, but a few still believe the award should have gone to Yamal, whom they argued outperformed Dembele over the course of the season.
Fans Express Mixed Emotions
In their mixed emotions over the outcome of this year’s nomination, some of the fans offer their thoughts thus:
@CFC_Janty wrote on X: “No football fan will pass without liking this. Dembele, finally a worthy Ballon d’Or winner.”
@10blended joked: “Dembele gave Mbappe a 10-year headstart and still won a Ballon d’Or before him.”
@EllisPrivv felt Yamal was hard done by and wrote: “I just feel like the Champions League deciding who the winner of the Ballon d’Or this season is pathetic. Because you can’t wholeheartedly think Dembele performed better than Yamal last season. Yamal’s performances over the two legs against Inter were all-time performances.”
@InvertTheWing countered thus: “Congratulations, Ousmane Dembele. The fact that it was even a debate is RIDICULOUS. Most manufactured race I have ever seen.”
@UTDTrey concluded: “Let it be known that Barcelona sold Dembele only for him to trash them 4-1 in Camp Nou, win the TREBLE, the Champions League, and now the Ballon d’Or. Sweet revenge.”
Full List Of Ballon d’Or Winners (2025)
Young Players: Lopez, Yamal; Best Coaches: Wiegman, Enrique; Best Goalkeepers: Hampton, Donnarumma; Top Scorers: Pajor, Gyokeres; Women’s Club: Arsenal; and Men’s Club: PSG.
Lamine Yamal – Kopa Trophy
Viktor Gyökeres – Gerd Müller Trophy
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Yashin Trophy
Aitana Bonmatí – Ballon d’Or FémininLuis Enrique – Men’s Coach of the Year
