Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres has admitted it’s an “amazing” feeling after winning the Gerd Müller Trophy following an outstanding 2024/25 campaign.
I don’t know what an English player has to do to win. Russo should have won, the Euro and Champions League winner, beating Bonmati in the process. Kanae never gets a look in but consistently scores. Seems they don’t play for the right team to win.
Julien Laurens, European football expert on the BBC Ballon d’Or reaction show
Dembélé owes this Ballon d’Or to his team as well. It is a reflection of the incredible collective work last season. Together they created something very, very special for Luis Enrique. He performed so well because, behind him and alongside him, he had this incredible team that attacked together, defended together and that made a difference in the way he could express himself.
Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir, after the Ballon d’Or: “Something very strange has happened. It’s the greatest moral damage to a human being… Lamine is the best in the world by a huge margin.”
🗣️ Mbappé about last night’s Ballon d’Or winner!
Even Karim Benzema had something to say 🏆
Aitana Bonmatí speaks on stage after her third consecutive Ballon d’Or: “My third time in a row here, and I still can’t believe it. Incredible. Thank you to France Football for this. For the third time, it really could have gone to anyone. If it was possible to share it, I would, because I think it has been a year at an exceptionally high level, above all, amongst my teammates, who had a great year.” Also, to receive it from the hands of Andrés Iniesta, one of my idols since I was little, alongside Xavi. I learned my football from them. To this day, I thank them for all that they have taught me. Thank you to them for everything that they have done in football.” Also, thank you to the organisation for improving things year-on-year. This year we have the same awards as the men, which I welcome. That is what we have worked towards for a long time.” To my club Barcelona, the president, the board, the staff and my teammates. For awards like this, we don’t achieve them alone. It’s thanks to the collective work of the team. I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life. I hope to represent this badge for many more years.”
During the emotional moment, the cameras focused on a young man crying.
It’s Moustapha Diatta, Ousmane’s childhood friend, with whom he played in all the youth categories in France. Moustapha never became a professional like Ousmane.
But he always believed in his friend, and that’s why Ousmane also dedicated his Ballon d’Or to him:
“To Moustapha, with whom I’ve been together since we were 4 or 5 years old. He’s always been there for me, always supported me. He always told me that one day I would be the best in the world. And we’ll always be together.”
Messi, congratulations. I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.
Umtiti: “I’m happy for Dembélé, he has progressed a lot. At Barça, he wasn’t disciplined and was often late.”
“Sometimes I had to call him in the morning to check if he was awake and if he knew training was in the morning.”
“He was careless both on and off the pitch.”
“The biggest problem was that he didn’t fully appreciate what it meant to play for Barça. He didn’t realise he was at Barça. He’s a very nice guy, but for him, it was as if he was just going to play in a nearby town. That’s Ousmane.”
🏆✨ Lamine Yamal: “God’s plan is perfect, you have to climb to get to the top.”
“Happy for the Kopa Trophy x2 and congratulations to Dembélé for the award and his great season.”
Ousmane Dembélé’s father is from Mali 🇲🇱, his mother is Mauritanian-Senegalese 🇲🇷🇸🇳, and he is married to someone from Morocco 🇲🇦 while playing for France. It shows what
Ousmane Dembélé On why his award was dedicated to his friend
15-years ago, Ousmane Dembélé was busy changing his Facebook profile picture, and he had ZERO responses apart from one. His best friend Moustapha Diatta, who joked:
🗣️ “Yo, smile a bit — do you have diarrhoea or what?”
They have been best friends since they were 4-years old and when Ousmane was going through a tough time in his playing career, Moustapha said:
🗣️ “We’ll stay friends until I see you at the top, because I’m certain that one day you’ll be the best.”
On Monday, Moustapha went to the Ballon d’Or ceremony with Ousmane and they both got emotional when he was voted the best player in the world.
After winning the Ballon d’Or, Ousmane spoke about Moustapha, saying: “Since we were 4’–5 years old, we have done and lived everything together. He has always supported me… and until the end, him and I will always be together.” ❤️
