Paris Saint-Germain winger, Ousmane Dembele, win di Ballon d'Or on Monday as reward for di role wey im play for di club Champions League victory last season. For di women category, Spain player Aitana Bonmati collect di award for di third year straight.
Dembele, wey be 28 years old, beat Barcelona pikin star Lamine Yamal to take di award. Dis award na di most prestigious individual prize for football, wey Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo don dey dominate for many years. Last year winner na Manchester City and Spain midfielder, Rodri.
Dembele, wey don play for Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona before, score 35 goals for all competitions as PSG win di French league, cup double, and Champions League. After Kylian Mbappe waka go Real Madrid, Dembele move go centre-forward position, and PSG knack Inter Milan 5-0 for di final for Munich to win di European Cup for di first time for dia history.
Dembele talk say, "I no even sabi wetin to talk. Di season wey I get with PSG na something wey I no go ever forget." E still thank im coach, Luis Enrique, wey win di award for club coach of di year, and describe am as "like papa" to am. Dembele talk say, "Even though na individual award, na di team effort make am possible."
Di 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, wey be Dembele former teammate for Barcelona, win di Kopa Trophy for di best player under 21 for di second year straight. Meanwhile, Dembele dey collect im award for Paris while PSG dey lose 1-0 for Ligue 1 match against Marseille, wey dem shift go Monday because of bad weather for southern France.
For di women category, Barcelona and Spain midfielder, Aitana Bonmati, beat her teammate Mariona Caldentey to win di award. Dem two play for Spain team wey lose to England for penalty shootout for di Women Euro 2025 final. Bonmati, wey be 27 years old, also lose di Women Champions League final with Barcelona to Arsenal.
Even though she no start Spain first two matches for di Euros because she dey recover from viral meningitis, Bonmati still win player of di tournament. She talk say, "I dey very proud. Na di teams wey I dey play for make me fit win dis award."
England player Alessia Russo, wey dey play for Arsenal, come third for di women category. Bonmati don win di award three times back-to-back, follow di footsteps of her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas. Norway Ada Hegerberg and USA Megan Rapinoe na di only oda players wey don win di Women Ballon d'Or since dem start am for 2018.
Di Ballon d'Or na journalists from di top 100 FIFA-ranked countries for men, and top 50 for women, dey vote for di winners. Vicky Lopez, wey be 19 years old and Bonmati teammate for Barcelona and Spain, win di best young women player award.
PSG former goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, wey shine last season before e move go Manchester City, win di Yashin trophy for best goalkeeper. England Euro winner Hannah Hampton win di best women goalkeeper award, while England coach Sarina Wiegman collect di best women coach award.
