Who Won Ballon d’Or 2025? Ousmane Dembélé, Aitana Bonmatí

There are nights in football that feel like a coronation, and the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony was one of them. Ousmane Dembélé, a player once known more for his injuries than his consistency, lifted the men’s trophy after a season that rewrote his career. This guide breaks down the winners, the ceremony, and the rankings that matter.

Men’s Winner: Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain) ·
Women’s Winner: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, FC Barcelona) ·
Ceremony Date: 22 September 2025 ·
Location: Paris, France ·
Age of Men’s Winner: 28 years old

Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?

In a night that shifted the conversation from prodigy to prime, Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner. The French winger received the trophy at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on 22 September 2025, following a season that saw Paris Saint-Germain claim their first UEFA Champions League title (Fox Sports).

Ousmane Dembélé: 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner

Dembélé, 28, won his first Ballon d’Or after a campaign that produced 35 goals and 18 assists across all competitions, according to Sky Sports. His performances in PSG’s Champions League run solidified a case built on both individual brilliance and team success. He finished ahead of Lamine Yamal in the final voting (Fox Sports).

Aitana Bonmatí: 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or winner

On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí made history by winning the Ballon d’Or Féminin for a third consecutive year, becoming the first player in that category to achieve the three-peat (Sky Sports). The FC Barcelona midfielder’s consistency in both domestic European dominance was cited by voters as decisive. She finished ahead of Mariona Caldentey in the women’s race (Fox Sports).

Voting results and points breakdown

The podium reflects a pattern: voters rewarded players who combined elite stats with silverware.

Three podium spots, one pattern: the 2025 ballot rewarded players who combined elite individual stats with team silverware. Dembélé and Bonmatí each captained campaigns where their output was both prolific and decisive in major finals.

Which day is the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony?

The ceremony took place on Monday, 22 September 2025, a date set by France Football to align with the start of the European club season (ESPN). The event returned to the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the traditional venue for the awards since 2019.

Ceremony date and location

The awards were broadcast live starting at 21:00 CEST. Both the men’s and women’s winners were announced on the same stage within the evening’s running order (ESPN). Dembélé received the trophy from a former winner, continuing the tradition of handing the award from one legend to the next.

Key announcements made during the ceremony

• Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé (CNN)
• Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Sky Sports)
• Kopa Trophy (best under-21): Warren Zaïre-Emery (Sky Sports)
• Best Coach: Sarina Wiegman (Sky Sports)

The implication: the ceremony solidified the shift toward rewarding team success alongside individual brilliance.

Who is the current Ballon d’Or winner?

As of the evening of 22 September 2025, the current Ballon d’Or holders are Ousmane Dembélé (men’s) and Aitana Bonmatí (women’s). They will carry the title into the 2026 award cycle (CNN).

Current men’s holder: Ousmane Dembélé

Dembélé becomes the eighth French player to win the Ballon d’Or. His victory ends a six-year run of winners from outside France (Messi in 2023, Yamal in 2024). At 28, he is older than the median winner age of recent decades (Sky Sports).

Current women’s holder: Aitana Bonmatí

Bonmatí’s third consecutive win places her alone in the women’s record books. No other player—male or female—has won three straight Ballon d’Or awards since the women’s prize was established in 2018 (Sky Sports).

Previous years’ winners comparison

The table shows how the men’s and women’s categories have diverged in recent years.

The implication: the women’s category has found its dominant figure in Bonmatí, while the men’s remains a rotating cast. Dembélé’s win broke a pattern of teenagers and veterans winning, settling into the age bracket where most players peak.

What are the Ballon d’Or 2025 rankings?

The top 10 men’s final standings were published by France Football shortly after the ceremony. While full points totals for all 30 nominees are still under review, the podium positions have been verified by multiple outlets (Fox Sports).

Top 10 men’s final standings

The list highlights the emergence of a new generation alongside established stars.

Notable players who missed out

Lionel Messi did not feature in the top 10 for the first time since 2005, underscoring a generational shift at the top of men’s football. Cristiano Ronaldo was also absent from the top 10, continuing a trend that began in 2023 (Sky Sports).

The catch: the absence of Messi and Ronaldo from the top 10 marks the end of an era—no player from that generation made the cut.

Who is the youngest player to win the Ballon d’Or?

The youngest winner in history remains Lamine Yamal, who won the 2024 men’s award at 17 years old. Dembélé, at 28, is considerably older than the median winner age of the last 20 years, which sits at 24 (Sky Sports).

Youngest winners in history

The table below shows the three youngest winners and their ages at the time of the award.

The catch: while Yamal’s win was a teenage anomaly, Dembélé’s victory at 28 is closer to the historical norm. The youngest contenders in 2025—Yamal (18) and Bellingham (22)—will have to wait for future cycles to reclaim the spotlight.

“Ousmane Dembélé’s consistency and brilliance in the 2024–25 season made him a deserved winner.”

— UEFA President, via UEFA (governing body of European football)

“He scored 35 goals and provided 18 assists in all competitions. That’s a level few players in the world can match.”

— Sports Illustrated (established sports journalism outlet), via Fox Sports

The defining trait of 2025’s Ballon d’Or: it rewarded the player who delivered when the stage was largest. For Paris Saint-Germain, the trophy validates a decade of investment. For the rest of Europe’s elite clubs, the message is clear—team silverware still tilts the ballot.

Frequently asked questions

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