Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain’s French striker, confirmed the favoritism and won the Golden Ball of France Football magazine, the most traditional individual football award. The winner is chosen by a hundred journalists, one of each of the 100 best countries in the ranking of FIFA (International Football Federation) selections.
Dembélé, 28, was considered the best player of the 2024/25 season. He stood out in the achievement, which was unprecedented for the Champions League PSG, Europe’s main club tournament.
The award was delivered to the Châtelet Theater in Paris by former Brazilian player Ronaldinho Gaúcho-he his own ball winner in 2005 and PSG player between 2001 and 2003.
Dembélé could only attend because he is injured: at the same time as the ceremony his team was in Marseille, playing a match of the French Championship, postponed from Sunday due to the rain – he performed 1-0 for Olympique. For this reason, most of the PSG cast could not attend a party that served as consecration of the most successful season of the club belonging to an investment fund of Qatar.
Dembélé’s main rival of the season was Barcelona’s Spaniard Lamine Yamal, 18.
Two other Brazilians were among the 30 nominees of this year, Barcelona’s strikers Raphinha and Real Madrid Vinicius Junior. Raphinha got a place on the top 10, fifth. Vini, second place last year in a controversial vote, this time was only in 16th position.
He did not attend the ceremony: since last year-in that the Brazilian was a favorite, but lost to Manchester City Spanish midfielder Rodrigo-Real Madrid’s powerful president Florentino Pérez decided that his club would boycott the award. In a small gesture of goodwill, however, the Spaniards sent to Paris their nominee to the best player award, Scottish Caroline Weir.
The detail of the votes of the 100 journalists should only be released in a week, when the next edition of France Football is published. In the ceremony itself, only the final classification is released without the individual score.
In the female, there were also two Brazilians indicated: the legendary Marta, 39, striker of Orlando Pride, was the 12th place, while Amanda Gutierres, striker of Palmeiras, was in 21st place. The two stood out in the conquest of the Copa America by the Brazilian National Team, in August, in Ecuador.
For the second year in a row, Brazilian coach Arthur Elias was one of the five nominations the best female team technician. “Both my nomination and those of Marta and Amanda reflect a moment of reconstruction of the selection, in a more competitive scenario between the world’s main teams. It represents the work of all of the technical committee that are with me daily,” Elijah told the Sheet.
The ceremony, organized by the owner group of France Football and the newspaper and sports TV channel L’Equipe, aspires to be a kind of football Oscar. It is up to the FIFA The Best Award, usually delivered at the beginning of each year by the International Football Federation. The two awards have been unified, between 2010 and 2015, which still makes many fans confuse each other.
A “Red Carpet” is installed in front of Châtelet Square, traditional Parisian theater address. Thousands of fans are accotable on the outer sidewalk, separated from the vips by bars, to spy on players, former players and celebrities invited to the ceremony.
Former Brazilian player Raí, PSG idol, arrived at the black suit and bull’s tie of the same color, accompanied by one of the daughters, Nah. Raí is traditionally in charge of the delivery of a prize that bears the name of his brother Socrates, attributed to a player or player who excelled by social work.
Star of the ceremony, Dembélé arrived half an hour before the beginning of black jacket without tie and sunglasses, shouts “Ousmane Ballon d’Or”, tirelessly sung by the PSG fans in the last three months. By his side, from “Black Tie”, Désiré Doué, author of two goals in the 5-0 of the Champions final against Inter Milan.
Highly like Dembélé, only Ronaldinho Gaúcho, who arrived shortly after, wearing a Black Chalk Suit and Black Sneakers, next to Brother Assisi.
Check out the Golden Ball winners
Young player: Yamal Lamina (Barcelona/Spain)
Young player: Vicky López (Barcelona/Espanha)
Male Team Technician: Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Female Team Technician: Sarina Wiegman (Inglaterra)
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnaumma.
GOELER: Hampton (Chelsea/England)
Top scorer: Viktor root (Sporting/Suecia)
Top scorer: EWA PAJOR (Barcelona/Poland)
Male Time: Paris Saint-Germain
Female Time: Arsenal
Socrates Award (Social Engagement): Xana Foundation (Luis Enrique Family Institution)
Best player: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain/França)
Best Player: Aitana Bomatí (Barcelona/Spain)
