By Chalien Dantes

Ousmane Dembélé has officially reached football’s summit.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger was awarded the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, edging out Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal to claim the game’s most prestigious individual honour. It caps off a sensational season for the Frenchman, who lit up Europe with 35 goals and 14 assists across 53 appearances.

His powerful form powered PSG to a historic treble, clinching Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and, for the first time ever, the Champions League.

The football world was quick to react, with two familiar names leading the applause. Kylian Mbappé, now with Real Madrid after his high-profile move in 2024, celebrated his former PSG teammate’s triumph on social media. Lionel Messi, who once shared a dressing room with Dembélé at Barcelona, also joined in the congratulations.

Though Mbappé finished seventh in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, the spotlight belonged to Dembélé, who finally turned potential into dominance. It’s been a long journey for the 27-year-old, who made the switch from Barcelona to Paris in 2023, the same summer Messi left PSG for Inter Miami. Their paths may have gone in different directions, but the mutual respect remains strong.