Introduction to the Awards
With 35 goals and 16 templates, the Champions League winner Ousmane Dembele was the overwhelming favorite, which was awarded in Paris on Monday evening. The 28-year-old played a key role in the historical Treble season of his club, including two templates in Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 failure of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich in May.
Emotional Acceptance
"I didn’t want to cry, but as soon as I talked about my family, it rose about the people who were there for me and I couldn’t hold them back," said Dembele afterwards. The former Dortmund player was able to take part in the award ceremony in Paris, although PSG played Marseille on Monday evening because of a thigh injury. He was overwhelmed by emotions when he presented the trophy and brought his mother onto the stage to enjoy the moment together.
Other Award Winners
Barcelona’s young Star Lamine Yamal finished second, but also won the award for the best U21 player of the year. In the women’s game, Aitana Bonmati from Barcelona was the first woman to take home the balloon d’Or feminine for the third time in a row. "It is incredible this feeling. I never thought when I was a child that I could achieve this because I didn’t think that football could exist from women," said Bonmati.
Women’s Football Awards
BONMATI led Barcelona to the domestic heights and Spain to the Euro 2025 final, where she was appointed player of the tournament despite the recovery of meningitis. England stars such as Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly, who had won 2025 euros and the Champions League with Arsenal against Bonmatis Barcelona, were viewed as favorites. Kelly took fifth place, third, while Arsenal teammates and Spanish midfielder Mariona Caldentey landed second. Arsenal was also honored as the best women’s team of the year.
Disappointment for German Players
The evening was disappointing for the Germans. Florian Wirtz, who was appointed German footballer of the year in August, was the only German on the shortlist and took 29th place. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) was appointed the best Bundesliga player in 13th place. Former German coach Hansi Flick in Barcelona lost in the coach of the year against PSG coach Luis Enrique.
Coach and Goalkeeper Awards
The national goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC) was also unable to win that was honored as the second best goalkeeper in the first women’s Yashin trophy-the prize went to England’s Hannah Hampton von Chelsea. Wing player Klara Bühlen from Bayern Munich was the only German woman among the 30 candidates who took 19th place. The award for the best coach went to England’s Sarina Wiegman, who defended the euro title with the lionesses.
The Significance of the Award
The balloon d’Or is an annual award granted to the world’s best football player. The French magazine France Football has awarded the prize since 1956 (women since 2018). The selection is based on the performance of the players in the respective calendar year, with an international jury of journalists right. The balloon d’Or is considered one of the most important individual honor in football. In contrast to the FIFA World Player of the Year, which also includes voices from national coaches and captains, the balloon d’Or is coordinated exclusively by journalists.
