The biggest names in the globe came together to honor the top players of the previous year at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday night to make the announcement.
Dembele, 28, replaces Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, who took home the trophy in 2024, after defeating Barcelona and Spain young phenom Lamine Yamal.
The former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund winger, who played for France at the 2018 World Cup, scored 35 goals across all competitions as PSG won the Champions League for the first time in club history and the French league and cup double.
“I’m at a loss for words. An emotional Dembele remarked, “It was an incredible season with PSG,” describing his club coach Luis Enrique as “like a father.”
Dembele, one of nine players from the winning PSG squad from the previous season nominated for the award, added, “It is an individual trophy, but it was really the collective that won it.”
“I haven’t really set out to win the Ballon d’Or in my career, but I put a lot of effort into helping the team win the Champions League.”
Yamal, 18, who was Dembele’s teammate at Barcelona when he made his breakthrough in 2023, had already won the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 for the second consecutive year.
