French forward Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain has been crowned the world’s best player, winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or at the annual awards ceremony held Monday in Paris.

Dembélé, a Champions League winner this year, claimed the prestigious title ahead of Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah — who finished fourth — Brazil’s Raphinha, Portugal’s Vitinha, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, who placed sixth. It marks the first Ballon d’Or of Dembélé’s career.

The ceremony also included a poignant tribute to Portugal international Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who tragically died in a car accident last July.