Ousmane Dembélé Knew Victory Was Within His Grasp

On September 22, Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d’Or. A little over two months later, the French player received recognition from GQ. In an extensive interview, he reflected on his Ballon d’Or victory.

A journalist asked him how he would have reacted if he hadn’t won the award. Dembélé was clear: “I didn’t think about it because I knew I was going to win. [laughs]” He then recounted the moment he realized he would win: “Well, when Ronaldinho opened the envelope!” Finally, the Parisian clarified that he didn’t feel he would win after the Champions League victory, saying, “I think it was more after the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham.”