In 2025, the Ballon d’Or race was more than just a contest of goals — it was about momentum, team trophies, consistency, and timing. Ousmane Dembélé, once touted for his flair but hindered by injuries and inconsistency, seized everything that mattered this season and walked away with the most prestigious individual prize in football.

Here’s how the numbers, trends, and rivals shaped up — and why Dembélé deserved the win.

📊 Key Trends & Data Points

1. Trophy haul & team success still matters
   PSG’s historic season—winning the Champions League for the first time, plus domestic titles—gave Dembélé a platform to shine. Voters heavily reward players who deliver in big matches and lift silverware.

2. Huge goal involvement
   From January to the end of the season, Dembélé stacked up around 25 goals and 8 assists in 29 games across competitions.
   In Ligue 1, he recorded 21 goals in 29 starts, his most prolific season ever.

3. Champions League performance
   Critical to his Ballon d’Or win. He scored 8 goals and added 6 assists in the 2024–25 Champions League campaign. His knockout stage performances and decisive moments in the final set him apart.

4. Consistency & resurgence
   Early in the season, he was less visible; but after the winter break, his form exploded. This transformation—from talented but inconsistent to world-beater—resonated with voters.

🏆 Other Contenders — Who Almost Pulled It Off

• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – The teenage sensation lit up La Liga and Europe with goals and creativity. At just 18, he was already seen as a future Ballon d’Or winner.

• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – A Premier League powerhouse with another season of elite numbers. However, Liverpool’s lack of major European success weighed against him.

• Raphinha (Barcelona) – One of the surprise top contenders thanks to a season full of decisive goals and assists, though overshadowed by Dembélé’s Champions League glory.

👑 Why Dembélé Came Out on Top

Putting everything together, Dembélé’s win came down to:

• Peaking at the right time — his unstoppable form after winter.

• Big-match impact — decisive in Champions League knockouts and the final.

• Balance of goals and creativity — he wasn’t just a scorer, but also a provider.

• Team success — PSG’s historic treble gave him the edge.

• Redemption story — overcoming years of injury doubts and inconsistency made his victory even sweeter.

💫 Ousmane Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or win is more than just a personal triumph. It’s a symbol of resilience, timing, and the magic of football—proving that persistence and belief can turn talent into history.