DEMBÉLÉ is Not the first black to win Ballon d'Or—What you need to know (Photos)

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been named the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, capping off a remarkable year in which he helped the French club lift its first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.

The award ceremony took place on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Dembélé beat out strong competition from Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who finished second, and his PSG teammate Vitinha, who came third.

The 28-year-old French international was visibly emotional as he accepted the golden trophy, dedicating it to his family, teammates, and the PSG faithful.

“This is for my teammates, for my family, for my mother who always believed in me, and for the fans who supported us through everything,” Dembélé said tearfully in his acceptance speech. 

His win comes after a stellar campaign where he was instrumental in PSG’s domestic and European triumphs. Beyond the Champions League, Dembélé also helped the Parisian giants secure the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup.

Dembélé is not the first black player to win the Ballon d’Or. Several black players have received the award in the past, most notably George Weah of Liberia, who made history in 1995 as the first and only African player to win. Eusébio, born in Mozambique and representing Portugal, also won the Ballon d’Or back in 1965.

What makes Dembélé’s victory historic, however, is that he is among a select group of French winners, joining the likes of Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, and Zinedine Zidane.