Why did Dembele win and Vinicius lose?

In the early hours of September 23rd at the Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris), Ousmane Dembele was officially announced as the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

Dembele will win the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

A moment that even the most optimistic would have found hard to imagine just a few years ago, when his career was still mired in injury, doubt, and disappointment.

The choral piece is titled "Ousmane, the Ballon d'Or".

Luis Enrique once joked that he was obsessed with a "song in his head"—a simple yet haunting phrase: "Ousmane, Ballon d'Or !". It initially started as a joke among PSG players as Dembele began to regain his form. But over time, it became a slogan, then a reality, as Dembele finished the 2024/25 season with 35 goals, 16 assists, and a historic treble with PSG.

During the gala night, that song was no longer just words of encouragement, but a declaration of rebirth: from a contract once considered a "disaster" at Barcelona, ​​Dembele transformed himself into a symbol of victory for Paris.

Last year, Real Madrid boycotted the gala after Vinicius Jr. finished second due to split votes with Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal. PSG learned that lesson perfectly. In their 2025 list of 30 nominees, they contributed nine players, but all unanimously and publicly supported Dembele. Hakimi, Vitinha, and even those who could be direct competitors, all acknowledged him as the most deserving candidate.

That unity provided a decisive advantage. No longer divided, Paris presented a "common candidate," and that name has now become a reality: Dembele.

Dembele's performance in the 2024/25 season was absolutely fantastic.

Dembele's story is unique because he wasn't a prodigy who rose to prominence early and immediately reached the top. On the contrary, he spent many years being seen as a symbol of failure: a €100 million signing that Barcelona regretted, a player constantly sidelined by injuries, and a name frequently appearing on transfer lists.

But when he moved to PSG in 2023, a turning point occurred. Mbappe's departure created a void, and Luis Enrique gave Dembele a central role. He responded with unprecedented consistency, maintaining his explosive dribbling skills while adding effectiveness to his finishing. From never having surpassed 10 goals a season in La Liga, Dembele unexpectedly exploded with over 30 goals in his peak season.

Recognition extends beyond Paris.

Not only teammates, but even rivals have to bow their heads. Mbappe – once considered the "heir to Messi and Ronaldo" – had to admit not long ago: "Ousmane is now closer to the Ballon d'Or than I am . " That statement is perhaps more accurate than ever.

While Vinicius and Real Madrid have declined, Erling Haaland has yet to recapture his devastating form, and Mohamed Salah is gradually succumbing to age-related pressures, Dembele has emerged as an unbelievable phenomenon: the player who seemed to have been forgotten is now a prominent figure in French football and PSG.

Dembele has matured a great deal.

The Ballon d'Or is not just a reward for statistics, but also a celebration of extraordinary stories. Dembele's victory wasn't simply about the number of goals, but about his journey from the depths back to the top. He transformed doubt into belief, criticism into recognition, and failure into legend.

Throughout history, there have been Ballon d'Or winners who are remembered not for their numerical superiority, but for the timeless stories they wrote. Luka Modric in 2018 and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 are examples. Now, Ousmane Dembele in 2025 is also among them.

In the early hours of September 23rd, as the Parisian lights illuminated the prestigious Golden Trophy in Dembele's hands, not only PSG, but the entire football world witnessed a historic moment. The 2025 Ballon d'Or not only named Ousmane Dembele, but also commemorated a miraculous rebirth, a testament to the belief that in football, nothing is impossible.

Source: https://znews.vn/vi-sao-dembele-thang-vinicius-thua-post1587536.html