Olusegun Adeyemo
Paris, September 22, 2025 – The 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris crowned Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí as the best footballers in the world, in a night marked by history, equality and emotion.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time, defeating strong contenders including teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who finished second. Dembélé’s decisive role in PSG’s Champions League triumph was cited as a key factor.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona and Spain made history by winning her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin, joining Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as one of the few players to achieve a hat-trick of wins. Bonmatí highlighted the significance of equality as the Ballon d’Or awarded equal prizes to men and women for the first time.
Other awards on the night included:
Kopa Trophy (U-21, Men): Lamine Yamal, for the second year in a row.
Women’s Kopa Trophy: Vicky López, Barcelona.
Yashin Trophy (Goalkeepers): Gianluigi Donnarumma (men), Hannah Hampton (women).
Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorers): Viktor Gyökeres (men), Ewa Pajor (women).
Manager Awards (Johan Cruyff Trophy): Luis Enrique (PSG, men’s), Sarina Wiegman (England, women’s).
Clubs of the Year: PSG (men), Arsenal (women).
Socrates Award (Humanitarian): Xana Foundation, created by Luis Enrique in memory of his late daughter.
The ceremony was filled with poignant moments. Bonmatí delivered an emotional speech thanking her teammates and supporters while calling for continued investment in women’s football. Hannah Hampton dedicated her Yashin Trophy to Matt Beard, the women’s coach and advocate who passed away earlier this year.
The night also underscored the rise of youth talent: Yamal retained the men’s Kopa Trophy, while López emerged as a future star with her women’s award.
Among the top 10 men’s nominees were Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Kylian Mbappé, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer. In the women’s category, Bonmatí was joined by Ewa Pajor, Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson, Mariona Caldentey, Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze and Chloe Kelly.
The 2025 edition of the Ballon d’Or will be remembered not only for Dembélé’s long-awaited personal glory and Bonmatí’s dominance but also for the milestone of gender equality in football’s most prestigious individual award.