59 years after the inaugural Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal – the top two contenders for the 2025 award – bring back the raw emotion of street football.
The support of his private wife, Rima Edbouche, and his family played a crucial role in Ousmane Dembele's transformation into the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner.
Former German captain Lothar Matthaus, 64, walked the red carpet with his 26-year-old girlfriend Theresa Sommer at the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony.
Victor Gyokeres' Gerd Muller trophy at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony on 22/9 sparked debate, given he trailed Kylian Mbappe in the European Golden Shoe race.
According to Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, the organizers of the Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele received an overwhelming majority of the votes compared to Lamine Yamal.
Being part of the Ballon d'Or ceremony is a milestone for many players and coaches, but under the influence of President Florentino Perez, Real Madrid has repeatedly boycotted the prestigious event.
Visibly moved upon receiving the 2025 Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele expressed heartfelt gratitude to his "father figures" Nasser al-Khelaifi and Luis Enrique, PSG, the French national team, his hometown of Evreux, and tearfully acknowledged his loved ones.
Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Neymar were among the best players in the world during their prime, but they never won the Ballon d'Or.
