2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé has given a wide-ranging interview to France Football, the French monthly football magazine that created the sport’s greatest individual prize back in 1956. The France international comfortably won the Ballon d’Or accolade, which rewards his contribution in PSG’s run to their maiden Champions League title.
Dembélé revealed that winning the Ballon d’Or has never been an obsession for him, despite being touted as a potential world-beater during his breakout season at Stade Rennais. “I never let winning the Ballon d’Or get into my head. It went to me and, towards the end, I went to it.” Dembélé is only the tenth player in history to have won the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.
The 28-year-old pipped Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to the title of best player in the world, but the PSG centre-forward rejects such a notion. “Those are big words. Being the best player in the world doesn’t mean anything to me. It can change every weekend. You’re no good in a game, they say you’re bad, and in another game, you’re the best in the world.”
Dembélé also paid tribute to the previous Ballon d’Or winner from France, Karim Benzema, who won the accolade in 2022 and labelled himself as the “people’s Ballon d’Or.” “We both grew up in the suburbs to stand at the highest level in the world. He’s the first people’s Ballon d’Or, I’m the second one.“
Hiyikopsz
1
Dumbell is the most non-exciting player ever to win ballon d'or.
Yodbekmry
0
Dembele might be the Ballon d'Or winner this year but he's definitely not the best player in the world - he won bec' he was part of a PSG team that was superb ! The best player is surely Mbappe - followed by Kane.
kaiiii...bro what did u smoke please....or are you sur say u dey stable at all.
shmmvlmkm
0
Dembele might be the Ballon d'Or winner this year but he's definitely not the best player in the world - he won bec' he was part of a PSG team that was superb ! The best player is surely Mbappe - followed by Kane.
scoring more goals does not make best player
nudeloprt
0
Israel 🇮🇱 not happy about it
Mccalljnr
0
It shouldn't now that the ballon dor has no credibility.
Why isn't it?
Kirk4ujm
2
It shouldn't now that the ballon dor has no credibility.
jakdmostz
4
Humble as his idol Messi
Suarezzy
2
Dembele might be the Ballon d'Or winner this year but he's definitely not the best player in the world - he won bec' he was part of a PSG team that was superb ! The best player is surely Mbappe - followed by Kane.
penape 😂 next joke please 😂, say top scorer in the world not best player ,what is wrong with this Ronaldo fans 😂
nodbknpsz
3
Then why did he accept the award?
cetdklmory
1
Dembele might be the Ballon d'Or winner this year but he's definitely not the best player in the world - he won bec' he was part of a PSG team that was superb ! The best player is surely Mbappe - followed by Kane.
blacknight8235IN
1
Bro's even humble now and more mature dude can win more balon dor in future if he keeps this up
Dembele is well grounded, he is aware that people judge players talent on a weekly basis, this week you are good the other week you are not good, so it’s safe to don’t let winning the award get to your head because critics can be very brutal that will eventually affects your performance
Yohabi1
6
Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world, Ousmane Dembele is the Ballon d'Or winner or 2024.
BazRuni
0
if it doesn't mean anything then he shouldn't have it..
RapagGHUpcoming
1
Nonsense 🤬, that's a bad thing to say as a balond'or winner. That's also a disrespect to those who voted for you as best including me so don't let Yamal fans provoke you just be silent like Messi
wopcdlosty
4
Bro's even humble now and more mature dude can win more balon dor in future if he keeps this up
Exactly my Take. He did work on himself. His behavior was overshadowing his brilliance. U got it bro.
wopcdlosty
2
Not his fan and never his fan, never PSG or Barca fan. But i was very happy for hos Balon Dor.. True deserver. Anyone has his opinion. Disliking someone or something doesn't make u blind. I used to criticize his childish behavior but he is the only player in history who made sure that he works in himself to become better after massive criticism. Look at players like Fati, Pogba, Alli, DePay, Martial, Sancho, Joao Felix etc how they never worked hard to prove critics wrong. Im proud of Rashford i think he is moving the Dembele way. Seems like he revived his talent back. Which is very impressive.
jakclmptyz
6
Bro's even humble now and more mature dude can win more balon dor in future if he keeps this up