‘I’m literally sleeping with it’ – French-Malian star Ousmane Dembele revels in Ballon d’Or glory

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has revealed he has barely let the Ballon d’Or trophy out of his sight since his name was called at Monday’s gala.

The 28-year-old dominated the 2025 vote to be named world football’s best player and told TF1, “I’ve been sleeping with it since yesterday.

“It’s an immense joy, the recognition of the work I’ve done.” He added that sharing the moment with his mother, who raised him alone, was “exceptional.”

Dembele, who was born in France to a Malian father and a Mauritanian-Senegalese mother, produced a record-breaking season for PSG to earn his first Ballon d’Or.

He scored 35 goals and registered 14 assists across 53 appearances as the club won an historic treble, including their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

He was joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals and collected both the domestic and European player-of-the-year awards.

His resurgence has been remarkable. Before Luis Enrique switched him from the right wing to a central striker role in December, Dembele had scored only five times.

From that point on he struck 30 goals, cementing his place as the focal point of PSG’s attack. Even while missing Monday’s rearranged 1-0 defeat to Marseille through injury, he was able to attend the ceremony in Paris and savour the accolade.

Dembele edged Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal to the award and became the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or – and only the second of the 21st century after Karim Benzema in 2022.

His form also carried over to the international stage, where he scored twice in seven appearances for France last season.

Signed by PSG from Barcelona for just £43.5 million in 2023, the forward has now delivered the type of season that once persuaded the Catalans to pay up to £135.5 million for his signature.