PSG star Dembele beats Yamal to Ballon d'Or, breaks down in tears

France forward Ousmane Dembele won the men's Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, the most prestigious individual award in football rewarding his starring role in the Paris Saint-Germain side that won the Champions League last season.

Dembele, 28, pipped Barcelona and Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the prize and succeeds Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, who won the trophy in 2024.

An emotional Dembele broke down, thrice stopping his speech to fight back tears, before his mother joined him on stage.

He had an impressive season with the Parisian club, helping them win the 2024/25 Uefa Champions League trophy, for the first time in their history.

Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres won the Best Striker award for his heroics of last term while with Sporting Lisbon of Portugal, Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the Best Goalkeeper award as PSG Manager Luis Enrique bagged the Best Coach award.

The former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona winger, who was part of the France team that won the World Cup in 2018, scored 35 goals in all competitions as PSG won a French league and cup double as well as the Champions League for the first time in their history.

"I really don't have the words. It was an incredible season with PSG," said an emotional Dembele, who said his club coach Luis Enrique had been "like a father".

"It is an individual trophy but it was really the collective that won it," added Dembele, who was one of nine members of the triumphant PSG team from last season nominated for the prize.

"The Ballon d'Or has not really been an objective for me in my career but I worked hard for the team to win the Champions League."

The 18-year-old Yamal, who was a teammate of Dembele's at Barcelona when he first broke through in 2023, earlier won the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged under 21 - the second year running he has taken that award.