Ousmane Dembele was officially recognized as the world’s premier footballer, taking home the coveted Ballon d’Or on a memorable night for his club, Paris Saint-Germain. Adding to the evening’s grandeur, Barcelona’s trophy-laden star, Aitana Bonmati, claimed the women’s award for an incredible third consecutive time.
The 28-year-old French forward, Dembele, whose talent truly blossomed under the guidance of PSG coach Luis Enrique, was instrumental in leading the capital club to their historic first Champions League title last season. He now stands as the sixth French player to lift this esteemed individual honor, following in the footsteps of Karim Benzema, who won in 2022.
Dembele triumphed over strong contenders, including Spain and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal, with his PSG teammate Vitinha securing an impressive third place.
“What I’ve experienced is truly exceptional; words can’t describe what we’ve achieved with PSG. There’s a bit of pressure, it’s not easy to win this trophy, and to have it presented by Ronaldinho, a football legend, makes it even more special,” Dembele expressed on stage. He was cheered on by several teammates at the Paris ceremony, even as others were in Marseille for a Ligue 1 match which PSG narrowly lost 1-0.
“I want to extend my gratitude to PSG, who brought me here in 2023. This is an incredible family. President Nasser (Al-Khelaifi) is like a father to me. I also thank all the staff and the coach, who has been exceptional – he, too, is like a father – and all my teammates.”
“We’ve practically won everything together. You supported me through the good times and the challenging ones. This individual trophy is, truly, a collective team victory,” he added, visibly emotional as he later embraced his mother on stage.
He also fondly remembered his first club, Stade Rennais, and the national team, pledging to win another World Cup alongside coach Didier Deschamps next year, building on their 2018 triumph.
Dembele’s personal accolade was just one of many honors for PSG. The club celebrated a remarkable season, securing the treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup, in addition to this year’s UEFA Super Cup.
The French champions were rightfully named the ‘Team of the Season,’ while Luis Enrique earned the title of ‘Best Coach.’ Gianluigi Donnarumma, who moved to Manchester City during the close season, received the Yashin trophy, recognizing him as the top goalkeeper.
“This is the fruit of hard work by everyone at the club,” declared PSG President Al-Khelaifi. “We have young talents and established stars who all work cohesively for the team. It’s a collective achievement.”
On the women’s side, Spain’s Bonmati, who was also named the Champions League Player of the Season, celebrated her third consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or victory. England’s Dutch manager, Sarina Wiegman, was recognized as the ‘Women’s Coach of the Year’ for guiding her team to the European title.