2025 Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé clinches historic margin over Lamine Yamal

Ousmane Dembélé claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or in emphatic fashion, finishing far ahead of Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal in a vote that left little room for suspense.

The French winger’s commanding lead reflected both his consistency throughout the season and his decisive role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph.

At the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the announcement confirmed what many had anticipated: this was Dembélé’s year. He amassed a total of 1,380 points, leaving Yamal trailing with 1,059. The 321-point gap underscored the scale of his dominance, especially when compared to last year’s edition, where Rodri edged Vinícius Jr by a narrow 41 points.

Dembélé’s victory also carved his name into French footballing history.

He now joins the prestigious list of French Ballon d’Or winners—Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema among them—bringing France’s tally to eight, a number equal to Argentina’s total, bolstered by Lionel Messi’s individual record.

The scale of Dembélé’s triumph was evident in the voting breakdown.

Of the 100 international judges, 73 placed him in first position, a resounding endorsement of his season.

Lamine Yamal, despite being hailed as one of the brightest young talents in world football, managed just 11 first-place votes, highlighting the gulf between the two contenders.

Vitinha, Mohamed Salah, and Raphinha rounded out the top five, while Achraf Hakimi, Kylian Mbappé, Cole Palmer, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Nuno Mendes completed the Top 10.

PSG’s dominance was impossible to ignore, with five of their players securing spots among the world’s best—a testament to the club’s strength on the European stage.

Even small details in the ballots reinforced Dembélé’s superiority.

He was never ranked lower than fifth place by any judge, while Yamal suffered the indignity of a ninth-place vote from the Egyptian delegation.

Scattered recognition went to other names—Hakimi, Mbappé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and even Scott McTominay—but none could rival the sheer weight of support behind the Frenchman.

Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or is more than an award; it is the culmination of a career long marked by criticism and setbacks, remarked one commentator. He has now achieved football’s ultimate individual honour with a margin rarely seen in history.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or will be remembered as the year Ousmane Dembélé silenced all doubters, delivering not just victory, but an overwhelming statement of excellence.

Ballon d’Or 2025 top 10

1. Ousmane Dembélé (France, PSG) – 1,380 pts
2. Lamine Yamal (Spain, FC Barcelona) – 1,059 pts
3. Vitinha (Portugal, PSG) – 703 pts
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool) – 657 pts
5. Raphinha (Brazil, FC Barcelona) – 620 pts
6. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG) – 484 pts
7. Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid) – 378 pts
8. Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea) – 211 pts
9. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, PSG) – 172 pts
10. Nuno Mendes (Portugal, PSG) – 171 pts