Ballon d'Or, Dembélé wins. Donnarumma again best goalkeeper

Psg is a winner: the 69th Ballon d'Or is in the sign of the Parisian team reigning European champions. Ousmane Demblélé overcame competition from Barcelona's young star, Lamine Yamal, and won the prestigious award. With him Luis Enrique, winner of the Johan Cruyff Trophy reserved for the best coach, and Gigio Donnarumma, who takes the Yashin prize for the best goalkeeper for the second time in his career, even though he has been playing with Manchester City since this season.

Best team of the year in men's is the Psg, while in women's the Arsenal girls are awarded. At the theatre Chatelet in Paris the catwalk of the best of world football was staged, even if there was no shortage of absences, such as those of Psg, engaged in the Marseille game, and Real Madrid, always at odds with the award organisers. Dembélé beat Yamal's competition and became the sixth French player in history to win the Golden Ball after Kopa, Platini (3), Papin, Zidane and Benzema. France thus becomes the nation with the most different footballers who have won this award, edging out Italy and Germany (five). Among women, Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatì won again, in her third success in a row. Donnarumma is ninth, McTominay is the best in Serie A: 18th. They are followed by Lautaro 20th and Dumfries 25th.

"Thank you, I really have no words, it's been an incredible season with Paris Saint Germain, I thank Psg who came to get me in 2023," said Dembélé, who couldn't hold back tears during his thank-you speech, also addressed to his coach Luis Enrique, "like a dad for me. We have won practically everything, this individual trophy is really the collective that has won it,' he added. "The Ballon d'Or was not a goal in my career, but I worked for the team to win the Champions League." Gigio was presented with the award by Gigi Buffon: "Thank you all, I am honoured by this award," he said from the stage. "I am really satisfied with my performances in the last season and thanks to my former team (Psg, ed.) we achieved an incredible season. Now I am focused on my new adventure and I thank City for betting on me. I hope to win many trophies together. I also thank my family, my wife and my little boy.

Lamine Yamal took the first prize of the evening: the Barcelona striker won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. Another prize at home to Barcelona: Vicky Lopez won the women's Kopa as best young player. The women's Johan Cruyff Trophy reserved for the best coach between club and national team goes to Sarina Wiegman, European champion 2025 (for the second consecutive edition) with the English national team, while the women's Yashin prize goes to Hannah Hampton, goalkeeper of Chelsea and England. Winning the Gerd Müller Trophy for the best goalscorer between club and national team were Viktor Gyökeres on the men's side (now at Arsenal after his exploits with Sporting Lisbon) and Ewa Pajor, Barcelona's centre forward, on the women's side.