With 35 goals and 16 assists, winner Ousmane Dembele was the overwhelming favorite going into Monday evening’s award ceremony in Paris. The 28-year-old played a key role in his club’s historic treble season, including delivering two assists in in the Champions League final in Munich last May.
The was able to attend the awards ceremony in Paris even though PSG were playing Marseille on Monday night because of a hamstring injury. He was overwhelmed with emotion when presented with the trophy, and brought his mother onto the stage to enjoy the moment together. Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal finished second but also won the award for the best U21 player of the year.
Bonmati makes history
In the women’s game, of Barcelona became the first woman to take the Ballon d’Or Feminin for the third time in a row. Bonmati led Barcelona to the domestic treble and Spain to the final, where, despite recovering from meningitis, she was named Player of the Tournament.
England stars such as Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly, who had and the Champions League with Arsenal against Bonmati’s Barcelona, had been considered favorites.
Kelly finished fifth, Russo third, while Arsenal teammate and Spanish midfielder Mariona Caldentey landed in second. Arsenal were also honored as the best women’s team of the year.
German players go home empty-handed
The evening was disappointing for the German nominees. Florian Wirtz, who was named in August, was the only German on the shortlist, finishing 29th. (Bayern Munich) was named best Bundesliga player in 13th place.
Former national team coach , now coach of Barcelona, lost out to PSG coach Luis Enrique in the Coach of the Year vote. National goalkeeper (Gotham FC) also failed to win an award, being honored as the second-best goalkeeper in the inaugural Women’s Yashin Trophy – the prize went to England’s Hannah Hampton of Chelsea.
Winger Klara Bühl of Bayern Munich was the only German among the 30 nominees, finishing in 19th place. The award for Best Female Coach went to England’s Sarina Wiegman, who defended the Euro title with the Lionesses.
High honor since 1956
The Ballon d’Or is an annual award given to the world’s best football player. The French magazine France Football has been awarding the prize since 1956 (the women’s since 2018).
The selection is based on the players’ performances in the respective calendar year, with an international jury of journalists voting. The Ballon d’Or is considered one of the most important individual honors in football.
Unlike the FIFA World Player of the Year, which also includes votes from national coaches and captains, the Ballon d’Or is voted on exclusively by journalists.
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