Ballon d'Or 2025 Winners: Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati Crowned Best in World Football
The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, held in Paris, witnessed a star-studded evening with Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati taking home the top prizes. Dembele, the French forward, was crowned the best men's player, while Bonmati, the Spanish midfielder, secured her third consecutive Ballon d'Or Feminin award.
Dembele's win was met with emotional scenes as he collected his award in front of a partisan crowd chanting his name. The 28-year-old forward led PSG to a treble-winning season, including their first Champions League title, scoring 35 goals and recording 14 assists in all competitions. Dembele's transformation under coach Luis Enrique has been remarkable, evolving from a mercurial winger to a complete forward with a ruthless edge in front of goal.
Aitana Bonmati became the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or for three consecutive years, joining an elite group of men that includes Lionel Messi and Michel Platini. The Barcelona and Spain midfielder expressed her gratitude, saying, "It's incredible this feeling. I never thought when I was a kid that I could achieve this because I didn't think women's football can exist." Bonmati's dominance was evident despite losing in the European Championship and Champions League finals to England's Alessia Russo, who finished third in the voting.
Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses head coach, was named best women's coach after England's triumph over Spain in Switzerland. Luis Enrique, PSG boss, picked up the men's Johan Cruyff award. Hannah Hampton, England and Chelsea's goalkeeper, won the inaugural award for best women's goalkeeper, while Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG and Manchester City's goalkeeper, claimed the men's prize.
Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting and Sweden's forward, won the men's Gerd Muller Trophy with 63 goals, while Ewa Pajor, Barcelona and Poland's forward, scooped the women's award with 48 goals. Arsenal and PSG won the awards for women's and men's club of the year, respectively, after their Champions League successes.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony highlighted the rising stars in world football, with Dembele and Bonmati leading the charge. Their wins serve as a testament to their hard work, dedication, and exceptional talent.
Source - Lead News Online
