Ousmane Dembele has emerged as the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or following a breakthrough 2024-25 season in which he excelled both individually and collectively with Paris Saint-Germain. After the ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet, his French national team teammate Kylian Mbappé shared a heartfelt 10-word message congratulating the Ballon d’Or winner.
PSG dominated European football last season, winning all domestic trophies before capturing the UEFA Champions League, showcasing elite-level soccer. Dembele contributed 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games, leading the team in goal contributions while also serving as a key piece in coach Luis Enrique’s system.
Mbappé, meanwhile, failed to contend for the top spots in the Ballon d’Or despite a strong first season at Real Madrid, highlighted by his first Golden Boot. His performances earned him 7th place in the 2025 rankings, far from the top three.
Following Dembele’s victory over Lamine Yamal, Mbappé took to social media to congratulate his former PSG teammate, now a teammate in the French national team. “It’s all about emotions, bro. You deserve 1000 times more,” Mbappé wrote, posting an illustration of Dembele with the Ballon d’Or.
Dembele’s career has been defined by ups and downs. After shining at Borussia Dortmund, he struggled at FC Barcelona, with injuries severely affecting his consistency. Now back in France under Luis Enrique, he has rediscovered his best form, culminating in his first Ballon d’Or nomination that he ultimately won, further proof of his standout season.
Why did Mbappé miss the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
Despite being nominated alongside teammates like Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, Mbappé and Real Madrid did not attend the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala. Spanish outlet Marca reported that their absence was a form of protest, following last year’s controversy when Vinicius did not receive the recognition many believed he deserved.
Days before the ceremony, Mbappé told CBS he would not attend. “To win the Ballon d’Or you have to win trophies. I have to help my club win titles and then we’ll see. I will be happy if Dembele wins it, because he is my friend and I have always supported him. I will follow him on television and I hope he gets the award,” Mbappé said.
On Tuesday, the day after the gala, Real Madrid will visit Levante for Matchday 6 of La Liga. Currently with six wins in six games across the league and Champions League, and sitting at the top of the Spanish table, the 2025-26 season is one Mbappé sees as a turning point in his career, especially with the World Cup approaching at the end of the year.