Dembélé’s heartfelt speech after winning the Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé, 28-year-old forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the French National Team, won the 2025 Ballon d’Or this Monday evening. He then took to the stage for a speech, fully transcribed here:

Dembélé: “It’s truly an incredible family.”

Thank you all. What I’ve just experienced is exceptional. I honestly have no words, it’s been an incredible year with Paris Saint-Germain, so many things have happened throughout my career. I’m a little nervous too, it’s not easy (laughs).

Winning this trophy, being handed it by Ronaldinho, a football legend, is exceptional. I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished in my career. First of all, I want to thank Paris Saint-Germain, who came to get me in 2023 with their president.

To the whole team and the entire club, it’s truly an incredible family. They have been exceptional from day one, President Nasser, with whom I’ve always been in contact, he’s been exceptional with me, he’s like a father to me. I also want to thank all the Paris Saint-Germain staff, they have been exceptional from the start.

Dembélé: “He’s like a father to me.”

Luis Enrique, who has been exceptional with me, he too is like a father to me, he has been a very important person throughout my career, even though it’s not over yet. And I want to thank my teammates, it’s all thanks to you. It’s been an exceptional year, throughout 2024-2025 we practically won everything.

You supported me in good times and bad, we managed to raise our level. We went after all those collective trophies and this individual trophy, it’s the team that went and got it. I want to thank all the clubs I’ve played for, whether it’s Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Stade Rennais, my youth club where I learned everything.

Dembélé: “I worked for the team.”

I’m happy even if it wasn’t an objective in my career, it’s exceptional to win a trophy like this when I look at the list, there are only great players. I worked for the team to try to win a Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain for the first time. I tried to win the league, the cup, and to be rewarded with a Ballon d’Or is exceptional. I’m happy tonight. I also want to thank all my national teammates who have been important to me.

These players with whom I grew up in the youth teams and with whom I now play with the senior squad. The coach who trusts me, it’s been 8 or 9 years that he’s trusted me. In good times and bad, he always calls me up to the national team and I’ve always had his confidence.

Dembélé: “I would like to thank my family”

We hope to win a World Cup for the coach. And I wanted to thank you and all the players of the French team. I would like to thank my hometown Évreux, where I grew up, it’s where I kicked my first football. Every time I have free time I try to go back to my town and they have always been exceptional with me, they are always there for me and I am very happy to have grown up in that city, thank you.

Finally, I would like to thank my family, my mother who has always been there for me, they supported me in good times and bad. I thank my agent, who always believed in me. He once told me I would win the Ballon d’Or. He always helped me, always motivated me. With my best friend, for the past 4 or 5 years we have experienced everything together. We did everything together. He followed me everywhere. Until the end, we’ll be together, him and me. Thank you all and have a good evening.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.