PSG's Ousmane Dembélé wins Ballon d'Or ahead of Lamine Yamal - ESPN

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has beaten Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to the Ballon d'Or after a fine season which ended with Champions League success.

Dembélé, 28, scored 35 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions for treble-winners PSG, who also won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in addition to their first ever Champions League trophy.

The French side also reached the final of the Club World Cup in the summer, eventually losing to Chelsea in the final in the United States.

Dembélé — who is currently injured, so wasn't part of PSG's squad for Monday's rescheduled game against Marseille — collected the award at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday.

The Ballon d'Or is given to the best men's player over the last season and is administered by France Football, with international journalists voting for the winner based on individual performances, team achievements and a player's class and fair play.

«Thank you all,» an emotional Dembélé said on Monday. «What just happened to me is incredible. I'm speechless. It's been an amazing season with PSG. I've experienced incredible things, and I'm a little nervous; it's not easy.

»Receiving this trophy, especially from Ronaldinho, is truly exceptional. I want to thank PSG for signing me in 2023. The president, the entire team, and the club. They are a wonderful family. From day one, the president has treated me very well."

Dembélé, who succeeds Manchester City's Rodri as the winner, was considered one of the biggest talents in the game when he broke on to the scene at Rennes first and later Borussia Dortmund.

«I would also like to thank all the staff at PSG who have been fantastic,» he said. «Luis Enrique, who is like a father to me. He has been very important to