Ousmane Dembele’s redemption run was finally complete as the Frenchman lifted his first-ever Ballon d’Or trophy on Monday, September 22. The Paris Saint-Germain star, who was tipped for greatness at a very young age, beat Lamine Yamal to be crowned as the best footballer on the planet.
Dembele, who left Barcelona under controversial circumstances in 2023, won the prestigious award on the back of some sensational performances, where he guided PSG to their maiden Champions League title last season. Under the coaching of Luis Enrique, Dembele saw a revival of his career in the central role as he helped PSG to a treble. The pacy attacker scored 33 goals and provided 15 assists in 49 appearances, which helped him win the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.
It was not exactly a straightforward season for Dembele, who was criticised by his coach over professionalism on the field. In fact, Luis Enrique had benched him in the first leg of the semi-final against Arsenal last season. Dembele, desperate to make the most out of his sensational form last season, had reportedly apologised to the manager, earning his place back in the side. Enrique was able to unleash the full potential of the forward, which eventually led to PSG hammering Inter Milan in the Champions League final. In a tremendous show of power, PSG beat the Italian side 5-0 in one of the most devastating final performances seen in Champions League history.
Dembele on Monday beat steep competition from Barcelona attacking duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. While Yamal won the Kopa Trophy — the best U21 player award — Brazilian playmaker Raphinha finished 5th in the final list in the senior player category.
Two hours into the ceremony, with the tension palpable in the air, legendary Ronaldinho called up Dembele. The PSG and France faithful, present in heavy numbers at the auditorium, cheered Dembele on as he walked up to the stage. Asked to speak about his feelings, Dembele broke down in tears multiple times, as Lamine Yamal, just 18, sat in his seat, stunned, without blinking even once.
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