The star of the gala held in Paris was Ousmane Dembélé, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or after beating his FC Barcelona teammate and rival, Lamine Yamal, in the vote. The Frenchman, a key player in PSG’s Champions League victory, saw his consistency and prominence in decisive moments tip the balance in his favor. Ronaldinho was responsible for reading his name at the Théâtre du Châtelet, prompting an ovation that confirmed the mood of the night. Dembélé, after years of inconsistency and injuries, has become the most decisive player in world football. With tears of emotion, he thanked his club, his coach Luis Enrique, and his teammates for the award, emphasizing that it represents the collective effort of PSG. On the other side, Lamine Yamal, who started out as a very serious contender for the trophy, could not hide his disappointment, although he congratulated Dembélé with a hug that is now one of the most memorable images of the gala.
Lamine Yamal wins the Kopa Trophy again
Although he did not win the Ballon d’Or, Lamine Yamal shone once again at the gala by winning the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes him as the best under-21 player in the world. The FC Barcelona player, aged just 18, becomes the first to win this award twice in a row, confirming his status as a once-in-a-generation talent.
The young striker received the trophy from Andrés Iniesta, one of his childhood idols, which made the moment even more special. Yamal said that this recognition is “a huge source of pride” and that it motivates him to keep working to one day win the Ballon d’Or. The consolation was bittersweet, as many expected his season to be enough to compete with Dembélé, but Barça’s Champions League defeat in the semifinals ended up weighing too heavily in the final vote.
Aitana Bonmatí makes history with her third Ballon d'Or
In the women’s category, the big name was Aitana Bonmatí, who won her third consecutive Ballon d’Or, something no female soccer player had ever achieved before. The FC Barcelona and Spanish national team midfielder beat her compatriot Mariona Caldentey and England’s Alessia Russo in the voting, cementing her status as the best player in the world.
Bonmatí was visibly moved as she accepted the award and dedicated it to Barcelona, “the club of my life,” and to the national team, recalling their recent successes in the World Cup and the Nations League. With this new award, Aitana not only confirms her status as a leading figure in women’s soccer today, but also enters fully into the history of Spanish sport. Her dominance in midfield, her leadership, and her ability to decide important matches have been decisive in voters placing her at the top once again. At just 27 years of age, her legacy is already historic and promises to continue to grow in the coming years.
