Paris Saint-Germain’s France International Ousmane Dembele said that winning the balloon d’O or never was a personal goal, but admitted that he could not stop tears when he spoke about his family after he was called the best player in the world on Monday.
The attacker became the first Frenchman since Karim Benzema in 2022 to lift the prize after PSG claimed his first Champions League crown last season.
«I didn’t want to cry, but as soon as I started talking about my family, about the people who had been there for me, it came up and I couldn’t stop it,» Dembele said Reuters After beating Barcelona and Spain, Lamine Yamal beaten to the price.
The 28-year-old added that, although he was never on his way to individual awards, the prize was a special moment.
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«It was never a personal goal. On an individual level, a trophy like this is beautiful. But if it happens, you are of course happy, you are happy,» he added.
When asked if the award was the «People’s Ballon d’Or», a description that was once used by Benzema, Dembele replied: «Benzema is the people Ballon d’Or, the first, and I am the second.»
Dembele insisted that the prize also belonged to his club.
«Yes, of course, it’s for the team. For all the people of mine, all Parisian supporters, the entire club, the staff and the players,» he said.
The striker recovered from an injury that he has set aside in recent weeks, «it’s better, I will come back quickly.»
Published on September 23, 2025
