The 2025 Ballon d'Or gala highlighted the opposite ends of the spectrum upon which the famous trophy can effect a player's career.
For Aitana Bonmati, her third consecutive award sees her elevated from superstar to legend of the game as she became the first women's player ever to win three straight times.
On the other side, Ousmane Dembele won his first Ballon d'Or award in the first-ever year he was nominated for the award. At 28 years old, Dembele has risen to the top of the game after years of being criticised as an unfulfilled player.
The Sporting News explains what Dembele said in his acceptance speech and how it relates to the rest of his career.
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Every word from Ousmane Dembele in Ballon d'Or acceptance speech
Ousmane Dembele experienced a range of emotions in his acceptance speech after winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or trophy from France Football.
"What I have just experienced is exceptional, I have no words for it, what happened with PSG," Dembele said upon accepting the Ballon d'Or trophy from Ronaldinho and reaching the microphone. "I am a little stressed to be honest. I have received this award from one of the biggest legends of all time, I can't believe this.
Dembele then went on to recognise a number of individuals who he felt were note-worthy in the journey to that stage. The 28-year-old praised all his former clubs who helped develop him, where he struggled at times before moving to PSG, and in particular a former teammate of his.
""I want to thank all the clubs I’ve played for. Stade Rennais, my first club. Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona, the club of my dreams," Dembele said. "I played with Lionel Messi, I want to thank him too, I learned so much from him. To have been able to play with Lionel Messi, I have learned so much from him.
"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 [Luis Enrique], 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."
"I want to thank [France national team head coach Didier] Deschamps. Let's hope we can win the World Cup too! I want to thank my hometown Eure. Every time I get the chance I go back...the people in my neighbourhood helped me to this moment."
Then, the emotions began to flow as he started to thank his family.
Matters as well 🥺🌕 #ballondor pic.twitter.com/Jsxpl5QV9d
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
"To my mother, I want to thank you. You have always been there for me, mama," he added. "To my family, we have experienced so much together. We have been through it all. We will always be together."
Not only did Dembele begin to wipe away tears at this stage, but his father was shown in the crowd also teary-eyed. Eventually, his mother was welcomed up on stage to join her son.
What is Ousmane Dembele's relationship with Lionel Messi?
Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi are very close, owning to their time as teammates at Barcelona.
Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017, able to say he played alongside the greatest of all-time. The two joined forces for four seasons, until Messi moved to PSG in the summer of 2021.
When Messi departed PSG in the summer of 2023, the French side turned to Dembele as a replacement, and he has blossomed into a star.
"I had a very good relationship with Messi from the very first day," Dembele said of Messi back in August. "My locker was right next to his, and he gave a lot of advice to me. He was someone who instinctively knew what you wanted. He told me that I’d have to be serious if I wanted to achieve my dreams -- after that, I watched and learned from what he did on the pitch."