The Ballon d’Or has long stood as football’s definitive individual honour, a symbol of who excelled most, combining stats, influence, trophies, and narrative. With Ousmane Dembele winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the football world has been debating whether his award was fully merited.
What Dembele Won with PSG Last Season
Dembele’s 2024/25 campaign was remarkable, both for his personal numbers and team success. He played a central role in PSG’s treble: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and their first-ever Champions League title.
In club competitions, his stats were impressive: 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. He also delivered key performances in crucial European knockout matches, including against Liverpool, Arsenal, and in the final, where he provided two assists.
Individually, he earned the Champions League Player of the Season award and was named Ligue 1 Player of the Season. He also shared the Ligue 1 top scorer spot. Beyond trophies and stats, his narrative was one of resurgence: from being criticised for inconsistency and injuries, to becoming a defining figure in PSG’s most successful season.
The Competition and the Arguments Against
Dembele’s main challengers included Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, and even names like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. However, the latter’s season was comparatively less spectacular in terms of collective honours.
Critics point out that Haaland still remains one of the most ruthless finishers in modern football, and in many seasons, his scoring alone might be decisive. Some may argue that his fewer collective trophies in 2024/25 weaken his case relative to Dembele’s haul.
Others suggest Dembele’s statistics, while excellent, were not always clearly superior to those of rivals in certain leagues. The Ballon d’Or voting system sometimes rewards standout moments, and that can invite subjectivity. Some critics may see Dembele’s win as partly influenced by his narrative of redemption and momentum.
Still, in the eyes of many analysts and bettors, Dembele’s ascendency was anticipated. Football betting online suggested Dembele was always the likely winner, indicating how predictions leaned strongly in his favour once the season’s major results were accounted for.
What Tilts It in His Favour
- Balance of team and individual success: Dembele delivered both, across domestic and continental levels.
- Key moments & influence: In knockout matches, finals, and high-pressure fixtures, he consistently impacted games.
- Narrative and redemption: Voters often gravitate to players who overcome adversity or reshape their careers; Dembele is a perfect fit.
- Recognition from peers and officials: His PSG teammates, coach Luis Enrique, and the club’s internal awards all backed his performances as pivotal.
Conclusion
In purely statistical or goal-scoring terms, some rivals might feel aggrieved or make a reasonable argument. But the Ballon d’Or is rarely just about numbers; it’s also about defining a season, creating moments, and telling a compelling story.
Given Dembele’s haul of titles, consistent impact, individual awards, and transformative narrative, and against stiff competition, his 2025 Ballon d’Or is a deserved accolade. He may not be the undisputed statistical king in every metric, but he embodied what the award seeks to reward: influence, excellence, and resonance across the biggest stage.
