Paris Saint-Germain forward, Ousmane Dembele, has capped off a remarkable career resurgence by winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, overcoming years of injury struggles to claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
Dembele first rose to prominence at Borussia Dortmund before his 2017 move to Barcelona, where injuries hindered his progress. Despite winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies, he spent more than 784 days sidelined with 14 muscle injuries during his time at Camp Nou.
By 2023, Barcelona moved him on to Paris Saint-Germain in a £43.5m transfer. That decision sparked a new chapter in Dembele’s career. In the 2024–25 season, the French winger scored 35 goals in 53 matches, guiding PSG to a domestic double and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
His decisive goals in the knockout rounds and consistent brilliance earned him the 2025 Ballon d’Or, edging out Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal.
At the award ceremony in Paris, a visibly emotional Dembele described the honor as “truly exceptional,” especially receiving the trophy from Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. He credited PSG’s president, staff, and coach Luis Enrique for believing in him, saying Enrique was “like a father” who helped him rediscover his top form.
Dembele’s triumph is being hailed as one of football’s greatest comeback stories — a player once plagued by injuries now standing at the pinnacle of world football.
