“The prize marks his shift from gifted winger to complete forward.” — On Ousmane Dembélé’s transformation
On 22 September 2025, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris hosted the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony for the 2024–25 season. The night honored standout players, strong teams, sharp coaching, and humanitarian work off the pitch.
Ousmane Dembélé won the Men’s Ballon d’Or after his best year, while Aitana Bonmatí claimed a historic third straight Women’s Ballon d’Or. The event also introduced women’s versions of the Yashin Trophy and the Gerd Müller Trophy for the first time.
⚽ Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé’s Career-Defining Season
At 28, Ousmane Dembélé reached the summit. He produced 37 goals and 15 assists in all competitions and pushed PSG to a historic year.
Dembélé mixed pace, sharp finishing, and smarter movement. He delivered in tough matches against top defenses. That edge set him apart from Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah.
Key Achievements: UEFA Champions League winner (PSG’s first), Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles (completing a treble), Champions League Player of the Season.
Think of Dembélé’s journey like a student who always had talent but struggled with consistency. After years of promise, he finally put it all together in one magical season — winning everything and proving he belongs at the very top.
🏆 Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí’s Historic Hat-trick
Aitana Bonmatí became the first woman to win three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards. She now stands with the game’s greatest players.
The Spanish midfielder led Barcelona in domestic and European play, serving as a key figure for Spain with steady leadership. Her midfield control was built on vision, timing, and clear passing lanes.
Three straight titles show consistency and range. Bonmatí’s run mirrors long spells of dominance seen in the men’s game (like Messi’s peak years) and signals the rising status of women’s football worldwide.
🌟 Youth Awards: The Rise of a New Generation
The Kopa Trophies spotlight players under 21, and both 2025 winners came from Barcelona.
- Men’s Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain) — At 18, he showed calm in front of goal and rare poise. He won the award for a second straight season.
- Women’s Kopa Trophy: Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain) — Her creativity and growing control in midfield earned the prize.
Both winners point to the depth in Barcelona’s academy for men and women.
Don’t confuse: The Kopa Trophy (for players under 21) with the Ballon d’Or itself. Lamine Yamal finished 2nd in the main Ballon d’Or voting but won the Kopa Trophy — two different awards!
🧤 Goalkeeping Excellence: Yashin Trophy Winners
The Yashin Trophy honors the game’s anchors in goal. This year marked the introduction of a women’s category.
- Men’s Yashin Trophy: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy / PSG) — He produced match-saving stops and kept the back line organized in PSG’s Champions League run.
- Women’s Yashin Trophy: Hannah Hampton (England) — Her steady form for club and country earned the inaugural women’s award.
⚡ Gerd Müller Trophy: Football’s Top Scorers
This trophy rewards pure output in front of goal. The women’s award appeared for the first time in 2025.
- Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden) — He scored at a high clip across league and European competitions.
- Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Ewa Pajor (Poland / Barcelona) — Her finishing powered Barcelona’s push for trophies.
👔 Coaches and Clubs of the Year
The ceremony also honored the best coaches and clubs of the 2024–25 season.
| Category | Winner | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Coach of the Year | Luis Enrique (PSG) | Guided PSG to first Champions League title with bold attacking play |
| Women’s Coach of the Year | Sarina Wiegman (England) | Team shape and man-management kept England near the top |
| Men’s Club of the Year | Paris Saint-Germain | Treble winners with historic European glory |
| Women’s Club of the Year | Arsenal | Strong runs at home and in Europe |
| Socrates Award | Xana Foundation | Humanitarian work tied to football |
🔟 Complete Men’s Ballon d’Or Top Ten (2025)
PSG placed five players in the top ten, underlining their breakthrough season.
| Rank | Player | Country | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ousmane Dembélé | France | PSG |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Spain | Barcelona |
| 3 | Vitinha | Portugal | PSG |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Egypt | Liverpool |
| 5 | Raphinha | Brazil | Barcelona |
| 6 | Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | PSG |
| 7 | Kylian Mbappé | France | Real Madrid |
| 8 | Cole Palmer | England | Chelsea |
| 9 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Italy | PSG |
| 10 | Nuno Mendes | Portugal | PSG |
📈 Key Trends and Analysis
The 2025 ceremony revealed several important patterns in world football:
- PSG’s Breakthrough Year: After years of chasing Europe’s top prize, PSG finally won the Champions League. Their haul across major awards capped a high point for the project.
- Barcelona’s Youth Power: Both Kopa winners came from Barcelona. Lamine Yamal and Vicky López show the academy pipeline remains strong.
- Women’s Football Gains Ground: New women’s versions of the Yashin and Gerd Müller trophies joined the program. Bonmatí’s three-peat added fresh momentum.
- Mix of Youth and Experience: The ballot blended veterans like Dembélé (28) with teenagers like Yamal (18). The sport now rewards both peak form and early bloom.
- Humanitarian Work on Stage: The Socrates Award kept community work in view and tied the game to causes beyond results.
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The 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony was held on 22 September 2025 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Ousmane Dembélé scored 37 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions during the 2024-25 season.
Aitana Bonmatí won her third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2025, making history as the first woman to achieve this feat.
Hannah Hampton (England) won the first-ever Women’s Yashin Trophy in 2025.
PSG placed 5 players in the men’s top 10: Dembélé (1st), Vitinha (3rd), Hakimi (6th), Donnarumma (9th), and Nuno Mendes (10th).
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