The winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or has been crowned, with Ousmane Dembélé taking home football’s most prestigious individual award. However, the bigger story of the night was the staggering dominance of his club, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Ballon d’Or 2025 final ranking, with the French champions occupying a remarkable six of the top ten spots.
The results cap a phenomenal 2024-25 season for the Parisian club and its stars, firmly establishing them at the pinnacle of European football.
PSG’s Champions League triumph translates to individual glory
The final top 10 was a sea of blue and red, a clear reflection of PSG‘s triumphant Champions League campaign. Six players from the winning squad were recognized among the world’s elite: Ousmane Dembélé (1st), Vitinha (3rd), Achraf Hakimi (6th), Kylian Mbappé (7th), Gianluigi Donnarumma (9th), and Nuno Mendes (10th). This unprecedented dominance in the voting demonstrates a clear trend where collective success, particularly on the European stage, is the primary driver for individual accolades.
The phenomenal rise of Lamine Yamal
While Dembélé took the top prize, 18-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal captured a significant share of the spotlight by finishing as the runner-up. For a teenager to come so close to winning the award is a historic achievement in itself. His high placement, even without a major European trophy last season, signals his arrival as a genuine contender for the crown in the years to come and a clear heir apparent to the Messi/Ronaldo throne.
The final top 10 rankings
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Raphinha (Barcelona)
- Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
This year’s final Ballon d’Or results send a clear message: major team trophies are the ultimate kingmaker for individual awards. However, Lamine Yamal’s phenomenal second-place finish proves that a new generation is ready to challenge for the crown, setting the stage for a fascinating new era.