The Golden Night in Paris: Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí Crowned at the 2025 Ballon d’Or
The world of football turned its eyes to the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris two nights ago for the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony, a golden night of awards celebrating the best in the sport for the 2024-2025 season. The evening saw Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí take home the top honors, cementing their places in football history.
The Ballon d’Or: A Legacy of Excellence
The Ballon d’Or, or “Golden Ball,” is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in football. Established in 1956 by the French magazine France Football, it was initially a prize for the best European footballer of the year. Over time, its scope expanded to include players of all nationalities playing at European clubs, and since 2007, it has been a truly global prize recognizing the world’s best player, regardless of their league.
The award is judged on three key criteria: individual performances and decisive character, team achievements, and a player’s class and fair play. This annual celebration of excellence honors players who have consistently delivered on the highest stage, leaving an indelible mark on the game.
The Winners of the Golden Night
The 2025 ceremony saw a number of new and familiar faces grace the stage to accept their well-deserved accolades.
- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) In a career-defining season, the French winger was crowned the best male player in the world. Dembélé’s pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League triumph, where he scored 35 goals in all competitions, was the key to his victory. He edged out a strong field of contenders, including Barcelona’s young sensation Lamine Yamal.
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona) Making history, Aitana Bonmatí clinched the women’s prize for the third consecutive year. The Spanish midfielder’s dominance with Barcelona, where she led her club to a domestic treble and the Women’s Champions League final, secured her place alongside legends like Michel Platini and Lionel Messi as a three-time winner.
- Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player): Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) For the second year in a row, the Kopa Trophy went to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old winger’s stellar season with the Catalan club, which saw him play a fundamental role in their domestic titles, earned him the award for the best player under the age of 21.
- Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) Gianluigi Donnarumma was recognized as the world’s best male goalkeeper for his outstanding performances with Paris Saint-Germain. His shot-stopping heroics in the Champions League were crucial to the team’s success.
- Women’s Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) The inaugural Women’s Yashin Trophy was awarded to England and Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton. Her crucial saves, including in the Euro 2025 final, were a major factor in her recognition as the best women’s goalkeeper.
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer): Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP) & Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) The top goal-scoring honors were a joint affair this year, with Viktor Gyökeres earning the men’s award for his astonishing 54 goals with Sporting CP before his move to Arsenal. In the women’s category, Ewa Pajor took the prize for her 43 goals with Barcelona.
- Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach): Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain) & Sarina Wiegman (England) Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique was named the best men’s coach for masterminding the club’s historic quadruple, including their first-ever Champions League title. On the women’s side, Sarina Wiegman was honored for leading the England national team to a second consecutive European Championship.
- Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain (Men) & Arsenal (Women) The collective brilliance of Paris Saint-Germain’s men’s team and Arsenal’s women’s team was recognized with the Club of the Year awards. PSG’s historic season, and Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League success, cemented their status as the best clubs in the world for the 2024-2025 season.
- Socrates Award (Humanitarian Work): Xana Foundation The Socrates Award was presented to the Xana Foundation, a charity created by Luis Enrique in memory of his daughter to support children with life-threatening illnesses, acknowledging the humanitarian efforts of the football community.