Dayot Upamecano, the 26-year-old Bayern Munich and France national team defender, spoke to Le Parisien in an interview published this Friday. A native of Évreux, he reflected on the 2025 Ballon d’Or won by Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and France forward, who also grew up in the same city in the Paris region.
Upamecano: “It’s a great source of pride.”
“We went to the same school, played on the same pitches — I played against him in elementary school. Honestly, I have no words! We all knew he’d become a great player, but still… When I saw him lift the Ballon d’Or, it brought tears to my eyes. I should have been there for the ceremony, but I couldn’t make it.
Seeing him thank his mother, his family, his friends, Moustapha, everyone who was there… it was a beautiful moment. Especially in Évreux — everyone comes together, all communities mix, and everyone is happy. That’s Évreux! Having a Ballon d’Or winner from our hometown is a huge pride.”
It’s heartwarming to see such deep-rooted bonds in football, where players who grew up together continue to follow and support each other’s careers. Upamecano’s emotion highlights the collective pride of a whole city, brought together by Dembélé’s success.
The two likely exchanged messages after the award, and perhaps Upamecano will indeed attend the celebration planned this Sunday in Évreux — a fitting tribute to one of the city’s brightest stars.
