‘Everyone was happy for me when I won the Ballon d’Or’ – Ousmane Dembele

France international Ousmane Dembélé believes his 2025 Ballon d’Or triumph was met with genuine happiness from fans and football lovers around the world.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is of Malian descent, reflected on the emotional moment during an interview with GQ France.

Dembélé’s career has been marked by dazzling talent but also long stretches of injuries, and he shared that this journey played a major role in the warm reception his achievement received.

When asked how it felt to earn such widespread approval in a year often filled with Ballon d’Or debates, he explained.

“Everyone was happy for me, that’s true. I think that’s mainly because of what I’ve endured throughout my career, especially the injuries; they’ve forged a particular mental strength in me,” he said.

He added that the recognition was a testament to perseverance.

“I think everyone was happy that I won this award after so much hard work and sacrifice. Hard work pays off, and that’s good news for everyone.”

Although injuries have set in this season, Dembele is confident he can reach last season’s form during the course of the ongoing campaign.