Dare Babalola
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembele, has reflected on his journey to the prestigious award, revealing the struggles and doubts he faced along the way.
In a heartfelt post on Facebook late Monday, the Paris Saint-Germain and France forward described the pain, loneliness, and moments of despair that threatened to derail his career, but ultimately fueled his determination to succeed.
Despite being labeled “fragile” and “injury-prone” by critics, the 28-year-old said he persevered, pouring countless hours into rehab and training.
He said the trophy is not just a recognition of his achievement, but a symbol of survival and resilience, expressing gratitude to those who believed in him, even when others doubted his potential.
He wrote, “They said I was finished. They laughed when I fell, they called me fragile, injury-prone, a wasted talent. What they didn’t see were the nights I cried in silence, the pain I carried, the moments I almost gave up. They never saw the hours of rehab, the loneliness, the doubts that tried to break me.
“This Ballon d’Or isn’t just a trophy—it’s a symbol of survival. Every scar, every setback, every sleepless night has brought me here. This golden ball shines bright, but my journey to it was built in the dark. To those who believed in me when the world turned away—this is for you. And to those who doubted… thank you, you made me stronger. 🖤🏆”
Dembele was named ahead of Lamine Yamal and Paris club-mate Vitinha to complete a memorable campaign. Dembélé was named UEFA Champions League Player of the Season as Paris claimed the title for the first time. He also played a key role in a domestic double, ending 2024/25 with an incredible haul of 37 goals and 15 assists.
The men’s Ballon d’Or top ten are, Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain), Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona), Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain), Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool), Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid), Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain), and Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain).
