NaijNaira
Ousmane Dembele has etched his name into football history by becoming the first Black Muslim to lift the Ballon d’Or — www.naijnaira.com reports.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward claimed the men’s award at the glittering 69th edition in Paris, edging Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal to the crown.
According to AP, the Frenchman’s triumph follows a spectacular season where his 35 goals propelled PSG to a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double alongside their long-awaited Champions League breakthrough.
Dembele, 28, stepped into the central striker role after Kylian Mbappe’s exit and spearheaded PSG’s emphatic 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich to secure the club’s first-ever European Cup.
“I really don’t have the words. It was an incredible season with PSG,” Dembele admitted emotionally, adding that manager Luis Enrique, who also won Coach of the Year, had been “like a father” to him.
The award broke years of dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Rodri of Manchester City being last year’s winner.
Yamal, though second in the main prize, picked up the Kopa Trophy as the best player under 21 for the second consecutive year.
On the women’s side, Spain’s Aitana Bonmati clinched her third straight Ballon d’Or, beating international teammate Mariona Caldentey despite setbacks in both the Women’s Euros and Champions League finals.
Bonmati credited her success to her teammates, saying, “I am here for the third consecutive time because of the teams I play in, so all of this is because of them.”
England’s Alessia Russo finished third, while Barcelona teenager Vicky Lopez was crowned best young women’s player.
PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City, earned the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, while England’s Hannah Hampton was recognized as the best women’s goalkeeper.
Women’s national team coach Sarina Wiegman rounded off the evening by being honored as best women’s coach.
