Emotions were high in Paris as Ousmane Dembélé lifted the 2025 Ballon d’Or, delivering a heartfelt tribute to his mother and agent Moussa Sissoko. Both were moved to tears as the Paris Saint-Germain forward remembered the difficult years of his career.
“I thank my mother, who encouraged me every single day, and my agent Moussa Sissoko, who always told me, ‘One day you will win the Ballon d’Or,’” Dembélé said. And this year that word has come to pass.”
Dembélé’s journey to glory was far from easy. Between 2019, 2020,2021,2022 and 2023, with recurring hamstring injuries at FC Barcelona left many stakeholders, journalists and fans doubting his future. At times, his career seemed on the line. But the unbeatable support and belief of his family and agent kept him pushing forward.
The Frenchman’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain was a turning point in his career. Last season, he finished as joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, alongside Marseille’s Mason Greenwood, and helped PSG win their 13th league title. He also began this season by lifting the UEFA Super Cup after a penalty shootout win over Tottenham and scored twice against Toulouse in a thrilling 6-3 away victory in Ligue 1.
Dembélé recently suffered another hamstring setback on international duty with France in September and is expected to be out for six weeks. Still, his story of perseverance, faith, and support moved the entire auditorium on football’s biggest individual stage.
