The French forward, who had long been seen as a player of unfulfilled promise, finally delivered on the grandest stage, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists across all competitions this year. His triumph marked a night of dominance for PSG, with the club collecting several of the ceremony’s top prizes.

The 28-year-old was visibly emotional as he accepted the award in Paris, joined on stage by his mother and greeted with a standing ovation. The moment was made even more adorable as Dembelé is currently sidelined by injury, missing PSG’s defeat to Marseille the same evening. “This is more than a personal award,” he said. “It belongs to the entire team who stood by me through every challenge.”

Dembelé’s individual recognition was accompanied by a collective sweep for PSG. Manager Luis Enrique was named Coach of the Year after guiding the club to their first Champions League trophy, while five of his players, including Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi, finished in the top 10 of the men’s rankings. PSG were also crowned Team of the Year, cementing their status as European football’s most dominant force.

The Frenchman’s resurgence is widely credited to a tactical shift last December when Enrique repositioned him from winger to centre-forward. From that point, Dembelé’s form skyrocketed, scoring 30 goals in the second half of the season alone. It was a turnaround that silenced critics who had once doubted whether the €135 million Barcelona signing could ever live up to his potential.

Elsewhere on the night, Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, finishing second in the Ballon d’Or vote. Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyökeres was recognised with the Gerd Müller Trophy after netting 54 goals for Sporting Lisbon and Sweden last season. Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who left PSG for Manchester City in the summer, won his second Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper.

Dembelé’s victory makes him only the sixth French player to claim the Ballon d’Or and the first since Karim Benzema in 2022. His story of revival and resilience has resonated with fans across the world, turning years of frustration into football’s highest honor. For PSG, the evening symbolized not just one player’s redemption but the arrival of a collective dynasty at the very top of the game.