Dembele joins list of African-descent players with Ballon d’Or

Ousmane Dembélé has won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, becoming at least the sixth player of African descent to claim the award. The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward was born in France to a Malian mother and a Mauritanian father, recording 35 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.

Dembélé’s 2024–25 season with PSG was a career-defining campaign, under manager Luis Enrique, who repositioned him as a false nine. His versatility, pace, and precision were instrumental in PSG’s dominant run, securing the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.

Key moments included a hat-trick in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich and a decisive goal in the final against Manchester City. He outperformed competitors like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the Ballon d’Or voting.

Dembélé with his win joins an elite group of African-descent players with Ballon d’Or that includes Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, Ruud Gullit, Jean-Pierre Papin, George Weah, and Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.

Dembélé’s rise began in the youth academies of Rennes, where his electrifying pace and skill earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund in 2016. His €135 million transfer to Barcelona in 2017, at age 20, made him one of the world’s most expensive players, but injuries and inconsistency stalled his progress.

His 2023 move to PSG, for a reported €50 million, offered a fresh start. Under Enrique’s guidance, Dembélé refined his game, balancing flair with discipline, and emerged as a key figure in PSG’s attack alongside players like Kylian Mbappé (before Mbappé’s departure) and Bradley Barcola.

Dembélé was part of the 2018 World Cup-winning squad and played a role in France’s 2022 World Cup campaign, though his impact at PSG in 2024–25 was the primary driver for his award.

2025 Ballon d’Or men’s rankings

The 2025 Ballon d’Or men’s nominees were announced on August 7, 2025, recognizing standout performers from the 2024–25 season across club and international competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and major tournaments.

Dembélé was announced on October 27 as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner during the annual ceremony held by France Football, outperforming Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and other top contenders.

The women’s Ballon d’Or also featured 30 nominees, with Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí winning her third consecutive award. The event took place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, along with other awards, like the Kopa Trophy and Yashin Trophy.

Written by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq

Abeeb Lekan Sodiq

Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He’s as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.

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