By securing the 2025 Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele has joined the ranks of football legends worldwide.
Ousmane Dembele impressively outperformed Lamine Yamal and other strong contenders to lift the Ballon d'Or trophy for the first time. Moreover, with this prestigious award, the French forward has officially placed himself among the greatest football icons in history.
Specifically, Dembele became the tenth player in football history to achieve the complete set of top honors including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or. Previously, nine legends had earned this distinction: Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Paolo Rossi, Bobby Charlton, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi.
Ousmane Dembele was part of the French national team that won the 2018 World Cup. At that time, although not the standout star, he played a crucial role in securing the golden trophy—a prize even Cristiano Ronaldo has long aspired to.
In the past season, Dembele delivered an explosive performance. The 1997-born forward appeared in 53 matches, scoring 37 goals and providing 16 assists for PSG, helping the French giants complete a historic treble, which included their first-ever Champions League title.
Not stopping there, Dembele also solidified his role as a key player for the French national team under coach Didier Deschamps. The former Dortmund star was instrumental in leading France to the UEFA Nations League semifinals and finishing third in the tournament.
Looking ahead, Dembele aims to defend the title with PSG in the new season while maintaining the impressive form he has shown. Beyond that, the 27-year-old forward will compete with France in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, targeting the ultimate prize next summer.
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