Ousmane Dembélé Wins the 2025 Ballon d’Or and Breaks Down in Tears Remembering His Mother

The French forward for Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembélé, experienced one of the most emotional nights of his career upon receiving the 2025 Ballon d’Or at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The 28-year-old attacker couldn’t hold back his tears as he remembered his mother, Fatima, during a speech filled with gratitude and emotion.

“I’ve always worked as a team. The Ballon d’Or was never a goal, but now that I have it, it’s something exceptional,” declared an emotional Dembélé, who capped off a historic season with wins in the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France.

The forward thanked PSG, its president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and coach Luis Enrique, whom he described as “fathers” in this football transformation process. He also had words of gratitude for his former clubs, especially FC Barcelona, where he played for seven seasons and shared a locker room with legends like Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta: “It was the club I dreamed of playing for, and everything I learned there has brought me to this point.”

The 2018 World Cup champion with France also dedicated the award to his national team and coach Didier Deschamps, who trusted him even in his toughest moments.

However, the most special moment of the evening came when he recalled his humble beginnings in Évreux and mentioned his mother, who raised him alone alongside his four younger siblings. In tears, Dembélé confessed: “She’s always there for me.” Fatima took the stage amid applause and ovations, as the crowd chanted the name of the new king of world football.The Triumph of Experience

The wait is over: Ousmane Dembélé is the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner. At 28 years old, the Paris Saint-Germain forward captured football’s most prestigious individual award, beating out 18-year-old Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.

Nicknamed “The Mosquito,” Dembélé capped off the best season of his career, not only lifting historic trophies with PSG but also becoming the leader of a side that finally conquered Europe.

A Record-Breaking Campaign

Dembélé’s stats tell the story: 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances, crowned as Champions League Player of the Season and Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner with 21 goals. Under Luis Enrique, he thrived in a central attacking role and became PSG’s most decisive player.

The Parisian club sealed a historic quadruple — Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions — an unprecedented feat in French football, with Dembélé as its standout star.

A Duel With Yamal

Lamine Yamal arrived as a generational talent and one of the strongest challengers. But voters chose to reward Dembélé’s consistency, leadership and trophy-laden season. At 28, he reached the pinnacle of his career, proving that patience and perseverance can also lead to glory.

The Paris gala confirmed it: French football has its new Ballon d’Or hero. While Yamal seems destined to dominate the future, the present belongs to Ousmane Dembélé.