Ousmane Dembele, Aitana Bonmati win Ballon d’Or awards in Paris

Ousmane Dembele was named the world’s greatest participant of the season as he claimed the Ballon d’Or on an evening of triumph for his Paris St Germain membership, whereas Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, a serial trophy winner, claimed the ladies’s award on Monday.

The 28-year-old France ahead Dembele, who wanted time and the steering of PSG coach Luis Enrique to satisfy his potential as he impressed the capital membership to their first Champions League title final season, turned the sixth French participant to carry the award and the primary since Karim Benzema in 2022.

He beat Spain and Barcelona ahead Lamine Yamal, along with his PSG teammate Vitinha taking third place.

“What I have just experienced is exceptional, I have no words for it, what happened with PSG. I feel a bit of stress, it’s not easy to win this trophy, and to have it presented to me by Ronaldinho, a legend of football, is exceptional,” Dembele stated on stage at a Paris ceremony the place he was supported by a number of teammates, the others being in Marseille for the Ligue 1 conflict in opposition to OM which they misplaced 1-0.

“I want to thank PSG who came to get me in 2023. It’s an incredible family. The president Nasser (Al-Khelaifi) is like a father to me. I also want to thank all the staff and the coach, who have been exceptional with me — he too is like a father — and all my teammates.

“We have practically won everything together. You supported me in the good and the difficult times. This individual trophy is one the team has won collectively,” he added, later bursting into tears when he thanked his mom who joined him on stage.

He additionally talked about his first membership Stade Rennais and the nationwide crew, vowing to win one other World Cup subsequent yr with coach Didier Deschamps after their 2018 victory.

Dembele’s prize was one in all a number of for PSG, who received the treble of Champions League, Ligue 1 and the French Cup final season in addition to the UEFA Super Cup this yr.

The French champions have been named crew of the season, Luis Enrique was voted greatest coach and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who left for Manchester City in the shut season, was recognised as high goalkeeper with the Yashin trophy.

“It’s the results of onerous work, by everybody on the membership,” PSG President Al-Khelaifi said. “We’ve bought younger gamers, and stars who work for the crew. It’s a collective achievement.”

Spain’s Bonmati, the Champions League player of the season, won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time in a row, while England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman was honoured as women’s coach of the year after leading her side to the European title.