Paris delivered another unforgettable Ballon d’Or ceremony, and this year’s winners backed up their brilliance with statistics that told the story. Ousmane Dembélé snatched the Men’s Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmatí made history with her third straight Women’s Ballon d’Or, and Lamine Yamal, as expected, stole hearts as the Kopa Trophy’s teenage prodigy. Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hannah Hampton reminded everyone that goalkeepers can steal the show too.
The winners earned their golden balls through performances supported by cold, hard data. Here’s what separated the champions from the rest of the pack.
- Dembélé Becomes France’s 6th Ballon d’Or Winner
Ousmane Dembélé stunned the football world by edging out heavy favorite Lamine Yamal to win the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the sixth French player ever to claim the honor. After years of brilliance and expectation, he finally took the crown following a transformative season with Paris Saint-Germain. Demblé scored 35 goals in all competitions and provided about 14-16 assists, playing a decisive role in PSG’s historic Champions League triumph and multiple domestic titles. With speed, creativity, and big-game influence, he proved that consistency combined with winning matters as much as individual flair.
- Bonmatí Joins Messi in Historic 3-Peat
Aitana Bonmatí etched her name deeper into football history by winning her third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the only professional player after Lionel Messi to achieve such a feat. The victory came despite Barcelona’s Champions League final loss to Arsenal and Spain’s Euro 2025 heartbreak against England, results that led some fans to question the decision, especially with contenders like Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo lifting major trophies. Yet Bonmatí’s influence remained undeniable. Whether dictating tempo, splitting defenses with incisive passes, or commanding the rhythm of play, she was the heartbeat of every game.
- Lamine Yamal: From Youngest Winner to Back-to-Back Kopa Trophy
Lamine Yamal first lifted the Kopa Trophy in 2024 at age 17, becoming the youngest ever recipient. A year later, at just 18, he defended the award, becoming the first player in the trophy’s history to win it in consecutive seasons.
Lamine Yamal’s 2024-25 season was extraordinary. The Barcelona winger scored 18 goals and made 25 assists across competitions, helped his club win La Liga, and stood out for Spain including a brace in the Nations League semi-final versus France. His performances against Real Madrid also drew praise and showed maturity well beyond his years. Among teenage prodigies like Mbappé and Pedri, Yamal is now setting a new benchmark in world football.
- Only Two Keepers Have Won the Yashin Trophy Twice — Donnarumma Joins Martinez
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s 2025 Yashin Trophy win makes him only the second goalkeeper ever to lift the honour twice. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez was the first, winning it back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
That stat underlines how rare it is to dominate in goal across multiple seasons. At 26, Donnarumma matched Martínez’s double, showing that goalkeepers who deliver consistency, decisive performances in big moments, and team success can reach extraordinary heights.
This past season he was integral to PSG’s run to Champions League glory, keeping 5 clean sheets in 9 knockout matches.
- From 47 to 4th: Salah’s Snub, Haaland’s 26th Shock
This year’s Ballon d’Or didn’t just crown history-makers; it also delivered shocking snubs. Mohamed Salah, who contributed 47 goal involvements in the Premier League (29 goals, 18 assists), picked up both the top scorer and assist titles plus the Premier League Player of the Season award, yet finished 4th.
Even more surprising was Erling Haaland, who despite another high-scoring season ended up 26th in the rankings. Together, these results suggest Ballon d’Or voters may be placing more weight on trophies, big moments, and influence rather than just raw numbers in this post-Messi/Ronaldo era.
Full List of 2025 Ballon d’Or Winners
Below is a list of the winners from the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony held on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, along with five shocking stats related to the event and its winners. The focus is on the key awards and surprising outcomes based on the context of the ceremony.
- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
- Men’s Kopa Trophy (Best Male Player U21): Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
- Women’s Kopa Trophy (Best Female Player U21): Vicky López (Barcelona, Spain)
- Men’s Yashin Trophy (Best Male Goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain, Italy)
- Women’s Yashin Trophy (Best Female Goalkeeper): Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)
- Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Male Goalscorer): Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, Sweden)
- Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Female Goalscorer): Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland)
- Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Male Coach): Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain, Spain)
- Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (Best Female Coach): Sarina Wiegman (England)
- Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
- Women’s Club of the Year: Arsenal
- Socrates Award (Humanitarian Work): The Xana Foundation, accepted by Sira Martinez
All Picture Credits: Ballon D’or & Gianluigi Donnarumma X accounts
