Ballon d’Or 2025 LIVE: Every award winner announced as football’s best is crowned

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Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or after leading Paris Saint-Germain to Champions League glory last season. The 28-year-old France forward beat Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal to the top prize at the Paris ceremony, receiving football’s most illustrious individual honour from Ronaldinho to loud cheers and applause at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, and was emotional during his speech as he broke down into tears thanking his mum - who joined him on stage.

Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third year in a row, beating Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to the top prize. Even though Spain lost out to England in the Euro 2025 final and Barcelona were beaten by Arsenal in the Champions League final, Bonmati’s quality shone through and the 27-year-old was named the best player at the Euros and in the Champions League last season. Bonmati is the first player to win the award three times since it was created in 2018.

Sarina Wiegman picked up the women’s Johan Cruyff trophy after leading England to their second consecutive Euros title, and her third in a row, while there was more success for the Lionesses as Hannah Hampton received the inaugural Yashin trophy for best women’s goalkeeper. Although missing out on the top prize, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for best young player for the second year in row. PSG and Arsenal were named men’s and women’s clubs of the year, respectively.

Follow all the latest updates from the Ballon d’Or ceremony and find the winners of all the awards with our live blog below

Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati win Ballon d'Or

28-year-old Dembele had quite the season, racking up 37 goals and 15 assists in 60 appearances, and winning the Champions League, Ligue Un, French Cup and French Super Cup.

While Bonmati reached the Euros and Champions League finals with Spain and Barcelona, losing both, but won the Liga F title, the Copa de la Reina, and Spanish Super Cup, notching 20 goals and 16 assists in 58 matches.

Flo Clifford23 September 2025 03:00

Hannah Hampton: 'I stand on the shoulders of so many great goalkeepers'

And Hannah Hampton’s full speech as winner of the Yashin Trophy. “Firstly I would like to say a massive thank you to France Football for this award. I don't think it's an achievement for me but for women's goalkeeping, that the award is finally now taking part.

“I stand on the shoulders of so many great goalkeepers of the past. Sitting alongside my fellow nominees, I'm proud to be a part of such an incredible group and inspiring future generations of goalkeepers coming through and training so hard.

“I'd like to thank my family, my brother who is here tonight, for the sacrifices that you made when I was growing up, driving me around everywhere so that I could fulfil my dream and be here tonight.

“To all the coaches, there's so many, from Frosty at Stoke, to all the coaches at Birmingham, all those at Villa, at Chelsea with Emma and Strew bringing me in, and now with Seb, Dan and Sonia having to put up with me on a daily basis. To Sarina and Dan for having the faith in me over the summer, with the success we've had. To the fans, your support does not go unnoticed and it truly means a lot.

“Finally, to Grandpa. I love and miss you everyday. I hope I made you proud. We did it.”

Flo Clifford23 September 2025 02:00

Renee Slegers: 'Invest in women, invest in women's sport'

Here’s Renee Slegers’ full speech as Arsenal won the award for Best Women’s Club.

“Wow. Thank you so much. It's a true honour for Arsenal to be recognised as Women's club of the year and we are so pleased to be here tonight to accept this award on behalf of everyone connected to our club.

“I'm proud to stand here representing this club that has pioneered women's football for 38 years, since 1987, when we were founded as part of Arsenal Community. It's fitting that we are being celebrated here tonight as community is what we are building at Arsenal women.

“I'd like to thank our owners, Stan and Josh [Kroenke], the board, Claire [Wheatley] and everyone across the club that strives every day to give us the best possible conditions to make it possible to do what we want to.

“Finally I can't stand here and not reference our wonderful supporters, who are, and have always been, such an integral part of who we are as a club. Driving us to play in front of sold out crowds at Emirates stadium. We truly could not achieve any of this without you all.

“Invest in women. Invest in women's sport. When we do that, all of us benefit.”

Flo Clifford23 September 2025 01:00

Hannah Hampton pays tribute to Matt Beard

Yashin Trophy winner Hannah Hampton paid a beautiful tribute to Matt Beard, the former Liverpool manager who died this weekend aged 47.

“The women's game sadly on Saturday lost a real trailblazer, Matt Beard,” she said. “Matt was someone who cared an awful lot for the women's game when no one else did. He lit up the room when everyone was in it. And this is just a message to show that not everyone should have to go through these dark moments alone. Sometimes the brightest smiles in the room hide the heaviest pain. He'll be greatly missed.”

Flo Clifford23 September 2025 00:30

Aitana Bonmati makes history with Ballon d’Or triumph

Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati has won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third year in a row, beating Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to the top prize.

Even though Spain lost out to England in the Euro 2025 final and Barcelona were beaten by Arsenal in the Champions League final, Bonmati’s quality shone through and the 27-year-old was named the best player at the Euros and in the Champions League last season.

The midfielder keeps the women’s Ballon d’Or at Barcelona for the fifth year in a row, following two wins for Alexia Putellas and now a third consecutive triumph. Bonmati is the first player to win the award three times since it was created in 2018.

Aitana Bonmati makes history with Ballon d’Or triumph

Bonmati beat Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to top prize to win the award for the third year in a row

Jamie Braidwood22 September 2025 23:55

Emotional Ousmane Dembele breaks into tears thanking mum after winning Ballon d’Or

An emotional Ousmane Dembele broke into tears as he thanked his mum for supporting his career after winning the men’s Ballon d’Or in Paris.

Dembele received football’s most illustrious individual honour after leading Paris Saint-Germain to Champions League glory last season. The 28-year-old forward beat Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal to the top prize.

Dembele used to be known as a promising but inconsistent young talent who struggled after a big-money move to Barcelona in 2017. But he was transformed after arriving at PSG in 2023, with manager Luis Enrique helping to turn him into a complete forward who offered defensive work as well as goals.

Emotional Ousmane Dembele breaks into tears thanking mum after winning Ballon d’Or

PSG and France star Dembele’s win at the Ballon d’Or was met by raucous cheers and applause at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, as well as fireworks on the streets outside

Jamie Braidwood22 September 2025 23:40

Why the Ballon d’Or got it wrong

So now we fully transition from the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo era, to a modern equivalent of Florian Albert or Allan Simonsen.

That isn’t to be disrespectful to two genuine greats, or the 47th different Ballon d’Or winner in Ousmane Dembele. He, like them, at least has a good argument to claim the award.

It’s just that, also like them, it doesn’t feel one of those victories that is going to be overly celebrated from the vantage point of history. There’s an element of trying to force present performances to fit something grander, to amplify it into something that fits.

More from Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney here:

Why the Ballon d’Or got it wrong

Opinion: Lamine Yamal should have won the men’s award ahead of Ousmane Dembele while Aitana Bonmati was a worthy winner for the third consecutive year

Miguel Delaney22 September 2025 23:25

Sarina Wiegman: 'Let's keep uniting our beautiful game'

Sarina Wiegman, accepting her award for best women’s team coach, had some lovely words to say about the man the award is in honour of.

The England manager said: “This award means even more because it is named after Johan Cruyff. He believed in the power of sport and believed in every kid having the opportunity to play, to grow and to belong, and that is why I feel so connected with him.

“I would like to say let's keep moving forward, keep uniting our beautiful game and enjoying our beautiful game too. Let's celebrate our successes too. And if Burna Boy's around, let's do some dancing too.”

The Dutchwoman was memorably surprised by her favourite artist Burna Boy during the Lionesses’ victory celebration in London after winning the Euros this summer.

Flo Clifford22 September 2025 23:10

Aitana Bonmati: 'If it was possible to share it, I would'

Here’s a translation of Aitana Bonmati’s speech in Spanish: “My third time in a row here, and I still can't believe it. Incredible. Thank you to France Football for this, for the third time, it really could have gone to anyone. If it was possible to share it, I would, because I think it has been a year with an exceptionally high level, above all among my teammates, who had a great year.

“Also to receive it from the hands of Andres Iniesta, one of my idols since I was little, alongside Xavi. I learned my football from them, to this day I thank them for all that they have taught me. Thank you to them for everything that they have done in football.

“Also thank you to the organisation, for improving things year on year. This year we have the same awards as the men, which I welcome, that is what we have worked towards for a long time.

“To my club Barcelona, the president, the board, the staff and my teammates. For awards like this, we don't achieve them alone. It's thanks to the collective work of the team. I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life. I hope to represent this badge for many more years.”

Flo Clifford22 September 2025 22:50

Paris celebrates Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or

Flo Clifford22 September 2025 22:40

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