BY KUNLE SOLAJA

French forward Ousmane Dembélé etched his name in football history on Monday night as he was crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming only the fourth player of African descent to claim the game’s most prestigious individual honour.

Dembélé, whose father is Malian and mother has Mauritanian-Senegalese roots, joins a select group of legends with African heritage: Mozambique-born Portuguese icon Eusébio, Liberian great George Weah, and France’s Karim Benzema, whose father hails from Algeria.

The Barcelona winger’s dazzling season—marked by decisive goals, creativity, and consistency—earned him the accolade ahead of other global stars, underscoring his long-awaited rise to the top of world football.

His victory continues a growing recognition of African football heritage in the global game. Eusébio won the award in 1965, Weah became the first and only African-based player to win it in 1995, while Benzema claimed the prize in 2022. Now, three years later, Dembélé has followed in their footsteps, making history for both France and Africa.

The Ballon d’Or, organised by France Football, has been awarded annually since 1956 to the best-performing footballer in the world.

Players of African Descent Who Have Won the Ballon d’Or

Ballon d’Or Winners Since 1956

• 1956 – Stanley Matthews (England)
• 1957 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)
• 1958 – Raymond Kopa (France)
• 1959 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)
• 1960 – Luis Suarez (Spain)
• 1961 – Omar Sivori (Italy)
• 1962 – Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia)
• 1963 – Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
• 1964 – Denis Law (Scotland)
• 1965 – Eusébio (Portugal)
• 1966 – Bobby Charlton (England)
• 1967 – Florian Albert (Hungary)
• 1968 – George Best (Northern Ireland)
• 1969 – Gianni Rivera (Italy)
• 1970 – Gerd Müller (West Germany)
• 1971 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
• 1972 – Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
• 1973 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
• 1974 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
• 1975 – Oleg Blokhin (Soviet Union)
• 1976 – Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
• 1977 – Allan Simonsen (Denmark)
• 1978 – Kevin Keegan (England)
• 1979 – Kevin Keegan (England)
• 1980 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)
• 1981 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)
• 1982 – Paolo Rossi (Italy)
• 1983 – Michel Platini (France)
• 1984 – Michel Platini (France)
• 1985 – Michel Platini (France)
• 1986 – Igor Belanov (Soviet Union)
• 1987 – Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
• 1988 – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
• 1989 – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
• 1990 – Lothar Matthäus (Germany)
• 1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin (France)
• 1992 – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
• 1993 – Roberto Baggio (Italy)
• 1994 – Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
• 1995 – George Weah (Liberia)
• 1996 – Matthias Sammer (Germany)
• 1997 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
• 1998 – Zinedine Zidane (France)
• 1999 – Rivaldo (Brazil)
• 2000 – Luís Figo (Portugal)
• 2001 – Michael Owen (England)
• 2002 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
• 2003 – Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic)
• 2004 – Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)
• 2005 – Ronaldinho (Brazil)
• 2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
• 2007 – Kaká (Brazil)
• 2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• 2009 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• 2010 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
• 2011 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
• 2012 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
• 2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)*
• 2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)*
• 2015 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
• 2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• 2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• 2018 – Luka Modrić (Croatia)
• 2019 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• 2020 – Cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
• 2021 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• 2022 – Karim Benzema (France)
• 2023 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• 2024 – Rodri (Spain)
• 2025 – Ousmane Dembélé (France)

*Between 2010 and 2015, the Ballon d’Or was merged with FIFA’s World Player of the Year award. Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Paris St Germain’s France international Ousmane Dembele said winning the Ballon d’Or was never a personal goal but admitted he could not hold back tears when he spoke about his family after being named the world’s best player on Monday.

The forward became the first Frenchman since Karim Benzema in 2022 to lift the prize after helping PSG claim their maiden Champions League crown last season.

“I didn’t want to cry, but as soon as I started talking about my family, about the people who have been there for me, it came up and I couldn’t hold it back,” Dembele told Reuters after beating Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal to the prize.

The 28-year-old added that while he never set out to target individual honours, the award was a special moment.

“It was never a personal objective. On an individual level, having a trophy like this is magnificent. But when it happens, of course, you’re happy, you’re delighted.”

Asked whether the accolade was the “people’s Ballon d’Or”, a description once used by Benzema, Dembele replied: “Benzema is the people’s Ballon d’Or, the first one, and I am the second.”

Dembele insisted the award also belonged to his club.

“Yes, of course, it’s for the team. For all the people who are fans of me, all the Parisian supporters, the whole club, the staff and the players,” he said.

Recovering from an injury that has sidelined him in recent weeks, the striker said: “It’s better, I’ll be back soon.”

-Reuters

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BY AMINE BIROUK. Casablanca, Morocco

For weeks now, Achraf Hakimi has been the name on every football pundit’s lips — and not just in Morocco.

The Paris Saint-Germain right-back has dazzled on the pitch, led by example off it, and carved out a place in the global football conversation as a potential Ballon d’Or winner.

 As the prestigious France Football award approaches its 69th edition, momentum is building behind a movement many see as long overdue: crowning a second African footballer with the world’s highest individual honour, nearly 30 years after George Weah’s historic win.

At first glance, Hakimi’s nomination might seem a stretch to those who consider defenders perennial outsiders in the Ballon d’Or race.

But this season, the Atlas Lions’ captain has ripped up the rulebook — combining elite defensive solidity with attacking brilliance.

His stat line reads like that of an elite winger: 11 goals and 15 assists across all competitions, with several coming at crucial moments in the UEFA Champions League, including the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.

 In doing so, he broke the long-standing record for offensive contributions by a defender, previously held by Brazilian icon Dani Alves since 2011.

These aren’t just numbers — they are decisive moments that turned matches, shaped PSG’s destiny, and elevated Hakimi into the realm of football’s most influential players.

A Leader at Club and Country

Hakimi’s influence has not been limited to PSG, where he helped guide the Parisian club to a near-clean sweep of trophies — Ligue 1, French Cup, League Cup, and finally, the much-coveted Champions League title.

In the final against Bayern Munich, it was Hakimi’s precise assist that created the crucial second goal, underlining his value on the biggest stage.

His performances in the Club World Cup, even in defeat, further cemented his reputation as a player for the big moments. For Morocco, his leadership has remained unwavering.

Whether it’s during World Cup qualifiers or international friendlies, Hakimi is not just a captain in name but in spirit — unifying the squad, supporting younger teammates, and carrying the hopes of a football-loving nation on his back.

More Than a Footballer

In a Ballon d’Or campaign, football alone is not always enough. Character matters — and here too, Hakimi scores high.

His commitment to fair play, humility in victory, and grace under pressure have earned the respect of referees, fans, and fellow professionals alike.

His conduct stands in sharp contrast to recent controversies that have hurt other nominees’ chances in previous years.

Off the pitch, Hakimi has embraced the role of a role model — supporting youth initiatives in Morocco, advocating for education and opportunity, and remaining deeply connected to his roots.

 In a sport where commercial interests often overshadow community ties, Hakimi’s grounded approach offers a refreshing narrative of pride, leadership, and service.

A Call to Action

Still, even with such a compelling résumé, Hakimi’s path to the Ballon d’Or podium will not be easy.

The politics of the vote — conducted by journalists across the world — can often favour attackers and those from traditional footballing powerhouses.

That’s why African media, in particular, must rally behind his candidacy.

The call is clear: this is not just about an individual award. It is about correcting a historical imbalance that has seen African brilliance overlooked time and again.

Players like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and Mohamed Salah came close. Hakimi, with his performance and profile this season, may have gone even further.

In Morocco, the campaign is already underway. In France and beyond, respected analysts are no longer dismissing the idea as a fantasy.

As September 22 approaches — the date of the Ballon d’Or announcement — Hakimi stands at the centre of a growing, hopeful movement.

Whether or not he lifts the golden ball, Achraf Hakimi has redefined the fullback role and reminded the world what African footballers can achieve when talent meets discipline, ambition, and character.

But maybe, just maybe, the stars will align — and the man from Casablanca will follow in George Weah’s footsteps, not as a political leader, but as the football king Africa has waited for.

Amine Birouk is the Editor-in-Chief of Radio Mars

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