Decoding Ousmane Dembele's year of redemption in 2025
29 Dec 2025

Ousmane Dembele finally delivered his best campaign in European football, winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2025.

Dembele, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the French national team, won the men's award after leading his club to a treble-winning 2024-25 season and their first-ever Champions League title.

Dembele was also awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player and won the IFFHS World's Best Player.

On December 28, he was again the world's best at Globe Soccer Awards.

From promise, potential to the world's best
Journey

Having shown promise at French club Rennes, Dembele ended up joining Borussia Dortmund and then made a bigger move to Barcelona.

Injuries and fitness issues mean't he didn't reach his potential at Barca where he spent five seasons and scored 40 times in 185 appearances.

He moved to PSG in the summer of 2023 and scored six times in his debut season.

However, the 2024-25 campaign was breathtaking as Dembele netted 35 times in 53 matches.

Finally, Dembele found the recognition and showed what he is capable of.

Dembele gets 8 medals, including six winners
Laurels

Dembele won the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League alongside Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France to help PSG win the treble.

Earlier in 2025, he also won the Trophee des Champions.

Dembele was also a runner-up at the FIFA Club World Cup and took third place at the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League with Spain.

At the start of the 2025-26 season, he bagged the UEFA Super Cup and on December he won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup to complete six trophy wins in 2025 calendar year.

Champions League and Ligue 1 Player of the Season
Fact

Dembele was named the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season and was also included in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season. He was adjudged Ligue 1 Player of the Year and was the joint-top scorer in the 2024/25 Ligue 1 campaign.

Dembele ended 2024-25 season with 37 goals and 15 assists
Fact

Dembele managed 37 goals and 15 assists to end the 2024-25 season. He scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists for PSG across all competitions. For France, he made 7 Nations League appearances, scoring twice and making one assist.

Unique records made by Dembele with these awards
Fact

Dembele became just the sixth Frenchman to get his hands on the Ballon d'Or award. The most recent before him was Karim Benzema, who won it in 2022. Meanwhile, since The Best FIFA Men's Player was introduced in 2016, Dembele became the sixth different player to win the award and also the first Frenchman to do so.

A season of redemption and how one change made difference
Conclusion

Dembele was playing mainly on the wing in the 2024-25 season before a tactical switch in December 2024 proved pivotal.

PSG coach Luis Enrique moved Dembele from the wing into a central attacking role. His transition to a number 9 did wonders.

He was also asked to lead the press and his dribbling abilities helped the side. With PSG boasting of sound wingers, Dembele found freedom and he not only scored but also assisted selflessly.

A season of redemption, indeed!