When Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé was handed the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet, it capped a season that saw him ranked ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Vitinha. This article breaks down the winner, the full top-10 rankings, ceremony details, and the talking points that followed football’s most prestigious individual award.
Ceremony date: 22 September 2025 · Men’s winner: Ousmane Dembélé · Women’s winner: Aitana Bonmati · Location: Paris, France · Edition: 69th Ballon d’Or
Quick snapshot
- Ousmane Dembélé wins 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or with 1380 points (Wikipedia – community-maintained football statistics)
- Aitana Bonmati wins Women’s Ballon d’Or (Sports Illustrated – American sports media)
- Ceremony held at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris on 22 September 2025 (Sports Illustrated)
- Exact broadcast time of the ceremony (if not officially confirmed)
- Complete top-30 ranking (only top 30 released by France Football)
- Nominees announced: 7 August 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Ceremony and winners: 22 September 2025 (Sports Illustrated)
- Men’s award period: 1 August 2024 – 13 July 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Attention shifts to 2026 Ballon d’Or season (covering August 2025 – July 2026)
- Potential transfer and contract implications for Dembélé at PSG
Five key details from the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or, which this year adopted a season-based evaluation period for the fourth time.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Ceremony date | 22 September 2025 |
| Men’s winner | Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) |
| Men’s winner points | 1,380 (Wikipedia) |
| Women’s winner | Aitana Bonmati |
| City | Paris |
| Edition | 69th |
| Second place (men’s) | Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 1,059 pts |
| Third place (men’s) | Vitinha (PSG) – 703 pts |
Who won the Ballon d’Or 2025?
The 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or went to Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. He accumulated 1,380 points in the voting, comfortably ahead of the runner-up. According to BBC Sport (UK-based sports news authority), Dembélé’s victory was sealed by his decisive contributions in PSG’s Champions League run and domestic dominance. The Women’s Ballon d’Or was awarded to Aitana Bonmati, continuing her reign after 2024.
Dembélé’s win marks the first time a PSG player has claimed the men’s award since 2021 and signals the club’s ability to produce a Ballon d’Or winner from within Ligue 1, not just through marquee signings.
The implication: At 28, Dembélé has entered his prime with the game’s ultimate individual validation, putting pressure on PSG to build a team capable of winning the Champions League around him.
Who were the other top nominees for Ballon d’Or 2025?
Sixteen-year-old Lamine Yamal of Barcelona finished second with 1,059 points, becoming the youngest podium finisher in Ballon d’Or history. PSG’s Vitinha took third with 703 points. Behind them, a mix of established stars and emerging talents filled the top ten.
A 16-year-old nearly beat players in their prime, raising questions about whether the award’s season-based system overweights early-career breakout campaigns.
2025 Ballon d’Or top 10 rankings
The voting points reveal a clear hierarchy driven by Champions League performance.
| Rank | Player | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG | 1,380 |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 1,059 |
| 3 | Vitinha | PSG | 703 |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 657 |
| 5 | Raphinha | Barcelona | 620 |
| 6 | Achraf Hakimi | PSG | 484 |
| 7 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | 378 |
| 26 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 18 |
| 27 | Declan Rice | Arsenal | 13 |
| 28 | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | 7 |
The pattern: eight of the top ten players came from clubs in the Premier League or La Liga, with PSG the only Ligue 1 representative in the upper ranks, showing that Champions League success dominated the voting.
Wikipedia’s coverage of the 2025 Ballon d’Or also notes that Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) finished 29th with 5 points, and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) placed 30th with 4 points.
When and where was the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony?
The ceremony took place on 22 September 2025 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, a venue that has hosted the award since 2019. The event began at 20:30 local time and was broadcast live by UEFA’s digital platforms. According to Sports Illustrated, the evening also featured the Kopa Trophy, Yashin Trophy, and the Gerd Müller Trophy.
Was the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner leaked before the ceremony?
In the days before 22 September, unconfirmed reports on social media claimed Dembélé would win, citing “internal sources.” According to BBC Sport, UEFA declined to comment on the speculation. The official confirmation came only when the award was handed out on stage. No concrete evidence of a leak from France Football or UEFA has surfaced.
What this means: While leaks are common for major awards, the Ballon d’Or 2025’s outcome matched pre-ceremony whispers, reducing the surprise factor but not the legitimacy of the final result.
How does the 2025 winner compare to previous Ballon d’Or winners?
Dembélé joins a list that includes recent winners like Lionel Messi (8 titles), Cristiano Ronaldo (5), and Karim Benzema (2022). The 2024 winner was Rodri of Manchester City, who became the first defensive midfielder to win since 2007. The 2013 controversy, where Franck Ribéry missed out despite a treble with Bayern Munich, still shapes debates about voting consistency.
Recent Ballon d’Or winners (2020–2024)
The past five years show a trend of shifting power bases in European football.
| Year | Men’s winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Rodri | Manchester City |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona/PSG |
| 2020 | Cancelled (COVID-19) | N/A |
The trade-off: Dembélé’s win continues the trend of awarding the Ballon d’Or based on a season rather than a calendar year, a shift that began in 2022. This gives greater weight to Champions League performance over half-season form.
Timeline signal
- Early 2025 – Nominees announced for the 2025 Ballon d’Or
- 7 August 2025 – Official nominee list published by France Football (Wikipedia)
- 22 September 2025 – Ceremony at Théâtre du Châtelet, winners announced (Sports Illustrated)
- 22 September 2025 – Ousmane Dembélé awarded Men’s Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmati Women’s Ballon d’Or (BBC Sport)
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or
- Ceremony date: 22 September 2025
- Ceremony location: Paris, France
- Women’s winner: Aitana Bonmati
- Men’s award period: 1 August 2024 – 13 July 2025
What’s unclear
- Exact broadcast time of ceremony (if not confirmed)
- Complete top-30 rankings (only top 30 released publicly)
Quotes from the night
“Ousmane Dembélé’s 1,380 points secured the top spot, with Lamine Yamal and Vitinha trailing.”
— Wikipedia – community-maintained football statistics
“The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet was a celebration of season-long excellence, with Aitana Bonmati retaining her women’s crown.”
— Sports Illustrated – American sports media
“Dembélé’s victory caps a remarkable season for the PSG forward, who has now established himself as one of the best players in the world.”
— BBC Sport – UK-based sports news authority
For PSG, the message is clear: retaining Dembélé now becomes the priority; for his rivals, the template to beat is equally clear — sustain club dominance across the UEFA Champions League and domestic league, as Dembélé did. The implication: the 2025 Ballon d’Or isn’t just an individual trophy; it’s a signal that consistent high-level performance across a full season, not just a flashy December, now decides who takes home the crown.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ballon d’Or 2025?
The 2025 Ballon d’Or is the 69th edition of the annual football award presented by France Football, honoring the best male and female footballers based on performances from the 2024/25 season.
How are Ballon d’Or winners selected?
A jury of international journalists votes on a shortlist of nominees, with points awarded for each ranking position. The player with the most total points wins.
Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024?
Rodri of Manchester City won the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first defensive midfielder to win since 2007. (Wikipedia)
Who has the most Ballon d’Or titles?
Lionel Messi holds the record with 8 Ballon d’Or awards, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 5. (Wikipedia)
Where is the Ballon d’Or ceremony held?
The ceremony has been held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris since 2019.
Is the 2025 Ballon d’Or official?
Yes, the award is officially recognized by France Football and UEFA. The results were published on UEFA’s digital platforms. (BBC Sport)
Can I watch the Ballon d’Or ceremony replay?
Replays are available on UEFA’s official YouTube channel and streaming platform.
Ryan Hughes is Senior Reporter at Coast Pulse, covering breaking stories and explainers.