Context:
French forward Ousmane Dembele and Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati were awarded the Ballon d’Or 2024-25, recognizing them as the best male and female footballers globally. The awards highlight themes of excellence, resilience, and global sports diplomacy.
Key Highlights
- Men’s Winner: Ousmane Dembele (France)
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
- Stats: 35 goals + 16 assists in 53 appearances under coach Luis Enrique.
- Historic Season: Career-best performance leading PSG to major victories.
- Redemption Arc: Recovered form after a tough phase at Barcelona following a high-profile transfer in 2017.
- Women’s Winner: Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
- Club: FC Barcelona
- Third successive Ballon d’Or, joining legends like Lionel Messi and Michel Platini.
- Led Barcelona to domestic treble (League, Cup, Super Cup).
- Guided Spain to European Championship Final, narrowly losing to England.
- Award Selection Criteria:
- Individual performance over the season.
- Team achievements at club and national level.
- Fair play and sportsmanship.
- Public image and influence.
- Voted by journalists from top FIFA-ranked countries.
Detailed Insights
- For Dembele:
- Benefited from a season without major international tournaments (e.g., World Cup, Euro Cup).
- Emphasis on club performance and consistency.
- Reflects PSG’s growing dominance in European football.
- For Bonmati:
- Symbolizes rise of women’s football globally.
- Her third consecutive win highlights sustained excellence and leadership.
- Bridges club and country achievements, showing the growing parity in recognition between men’s and women’s football.