Ballon d’Or 2025 LIVE: Ousmane Dembele pays emotional tribute to his mother after winning top prize | OneFootball

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Ousmane Dembele wins Ballon d’Or

Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or after leading Paris Saint-Germain to Champions League glory last season. The 28-year-old France forward beat Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal to the top prize at the Paris ceremony, receiving football’s most illustrious individual honour from Ronaldinho to loud cheers and applause at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, and was emotional during his speech as he broke down into tears thanking his mum - who joined him on stage.

Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third year in a row, beating Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to the top prize. Even though Spain lost out to England in the Euro 2025 final and Barcelona were beaten by Arsenal in the Champions League final, Bonmati’s quality shone through and the 27-year-old was named the best player at the Euros and in the Champions League last season. Bonmati is the first player to win the award three times since it was created in 2018.

Sarina Wiegman picked up the women’s Johan Cruyff trophy after leading England to their second consecutive Euros title, and her third in a row, while there was more success for the Lionesses as Hannah Hampton received the inaugural Yashin trophy for best women’s goalkeeper. Although missing out on the top prize, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for best young player for the second year in row. PSG and Arsenal were named men’s and women’s clubs of the year, respectively.

Why the Ballon d’Or got it wrong

So now we fully transition from the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo era, to a modern equivalent of Florian Albert or Allan Simonsen.

That isn’t to be disrespectful to two genuine greats, or the 47th different Ballon d’Or winner in Ousmane Dembele. He, like them, at least has a good argument to claim the award.

It’s just that, also like them, it doesn’t feel one of those victories that is going to be overly celebrated from the vantage point of history. There’s an element of trying to force present performances to fit something grander, to amplify it into something that fits.

Why the Ballon d’Or got it wrong

Opinion: Lamine Yamal should have won the men’s award ahead of Ousmane Dembele while Aitana Bonmati was a worthy winner for the third consecutive year

Miguel Delaney23 September 2025 11:00

Fabio Capello makes embarrassing gaffe when presenting Sarina Wiegman award at Ballon d’Or

Former England manager Fabio Capello mispronounced Sarina Wiegman’s name when awarding the Lionesses boss the Johan Cruyff trophy for best women’s coach at the Ballon d’Or awards.

As he read out the winner of the award, Capello announced the Dutch coach’s name as ‘Sabrina Wiegman’ before the Lionesses manager came onto the stage to accept the trophy at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Capello makes embarrassing gaffe when presenting Wiegman award at Ballon d’Or

Capello announced the winner of best women’s coach as ‘Sabrina Wiegman’ in Paris

Mike Jones23 September 2025 10:00

Aitana Bonmati: 'If it was possible to share it, I would'

Here’s a translation of Aitana Bonmati’s speech in Spanish: “My third time in a row here, and I still can't believe it. Incredible. Thank you to France Football for this, for the third time, it really could have gone to anyone. If it was possible to share it, I would, because I think it has been a year with an exceptionally high level, above all among my teammates, who had a great year.

“Also to receive it from the hands of Andres Iniesta, one of my idols since I was little, alongside Xavi. I learned my football from them, to this day I thank them for all that they have taught me. Thank you to them for everything that they have done in football.

“Also thank you to the organisation, for improving things year on year. This year we have the same awards as the men, which I welcome, that is what we have worked towards for a long time.

“To my club Barcelona, the president, the board, the staff and my teammates. For awards like this, we don't achieve them alone. It's thanks to the collective work of the team. I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life. I hope to represent this badge for many more years.”