After a season crowned with domestic and European trophies, Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, won the 2025 Ballon d’Or. In an exclusive interview with PSG TV, he reflected on this moment and his ambitions, not forgetting the importance of coach Luis Enrique.
Dembélé: “It was amazing to experience all of this”
How did you experience the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
“It was amazing. I started the day here at the training center. And the evening was beautiful; there were only Paris Saint-Germain fans. It was wonderful to experience all of this. Even more so with my family.”
What do you feel when you hear your name announced?
“A lot of pride, it was an incredible moment. Gigio hugged me right away. And when you walk up the steps, you’re truly happy.”
Your teammates were also very happy for you; is this also their award?
“Yes, of course. As I said, it’s the team’s Ballon d’Or. It’s thanks to them that I was able to reach this level on the pitch. If you don’t have a good team, you can’t perform well on the pitch.”
Dembélé: “I try to repay all the trust he gives me on the pitch.”
How would you describe your special relationship with Luis Enrique?
“As I said, he has trusted me since the beginning; he has been incredible with me. He’s been chanting ‘Ousmane Ballon d’Or’ for three months now (laughs). I try to repay all the trust he gives me on the pitch. The mentality he has brought to the team is incredible. He is an exceptional coach, even outside of football. He helps us, advises us to be good players but also good people.”
How does this Ballon d’Or change the player you are? “Nothing really changes. I’ll always try to give 100% every weekend. I’ll stay true to the kind of player I am. I want to help the team win trophies, because we need to keep writing the club’s history.”
What do you dream of now that you’ve won everything?
“We’re competitive people. In August, everything starts from scratch, so we want to keep winning.”
