The ceremony of the 69th Ballon d'Or, held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, was an evening rich in emotions and symbols for Ousmane Dembélé. At 28, the PSG and French team striker entered the French football pantheon, joining the legends that Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema are. Favorite of bookmakers, Dembélé won the trophy after a spectacular season punctuated by impressive statistics: 35 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. But beyond the figures, his coronation also reflects the importance of his unifying role within the Parisian locker room and the cohesion of a victorious PSG on all fronts.
When Ronaldinho announced his name, Dembélé welcomed the news with his usual, simple and authentic style. A discreet smile, followed by warm congratulations from his former and current teammates – Donnarumma, Désiré Doué, Joao Neves, and even a handshake with Lamine Yamal, his main competitor. The Châtelet scene has turned into an emotional theater, where each hug and each word pronounced by Dembélé was breathing sincerity. His discreet humor and flooding, excused by a “Sorry, I have a little stress”even caused the laughter of the public, adding a human touch to this historic moment. The story of the evening, told by our colleagues from The teamis certainly part of the history of French football.
A historic evening
Mounted on stage to recover his trophy, Dembélé paid tribute to his partners and his club for a long time. He stressed the importance of the collective in his success and did not fail to thank PSG, its president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, coach Luis Enrique and all the staff. Between emotions and laughter, the French insisted on solidarity and team spirit, recalling that his Ballon d'Or is not only an individual reward, but the fruit of an exceptional season of PSG, winner of Ligue 1, the French Cup, the Champions League and the Champions Trophy. As reported The team9:15 p.m., during the presentation of the Kopa trophy to Vicky Lopez, Ousmane Dembélé suddenly left the room, causing a little moment of tension. Security had indeed moved his family in a somewhat rider, and the champion had to intervene to restore the situation, narrowly avoiding what could have become a diplomatic incident. He will come back a quarter of an hour later, the calm having returned.
The rest of the evening will take place more classically, but the backstage remained alive. During the advertising breaks, Dembélé built the end of fat with Désiré Doué and Joao Neves, seated just behind him, while regularly consulting his smartphone to follow the evolution of the score at the Vélodrome. These moments, both relaxed and concentrated, show a player attentive to everything that happens around him, mixing humor, camaraderie and passion for football even in the middle of the ceremony. The emotion reached his climax when he spoke of his relatives and his career. From Évreux, where he began to hit his first balloons, to his family and his most faithful friends like Moustapha Diatta, Dembélé shared his gratitude and affection. Arrived a few hours earlier at the Châtelet in a dark suit and sunglasses, surrounded by a delegation of fifteen people, it appeared serene and pleasant. This image, simple but strong, perfectly sums up the man behind the player: a discreet, authentic champion and deeply attached to those who accompanied him in his ascent towards the summit of world football.
