In the election he made it from the Spanish attacker Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) and his Portuguese teammate Vitinha. For the second year in a row there were no Belgians among the thirty nominees. Kevin De Bruyne finished third in 2022, the best listing ever for a countryman. Even in the previous years there was often a Belgian in the top ten, but in the last two years no more countryman got the thirty nominees.
The 28-year-old Dembélé is the sixth Frenchman ever and the first since Karim Benzema in 2022 who can receive the Golden Ball. On the honors list he is the successor of Spaniard Rodri van Manchester City. In 2023 Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) won for the last time. The winner is chosen by a jury of one hundred international journalists from each country in the top one hundred of the FIFA world ranking.
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Last season, with no less than 35 goals and 16 assists, Dembélé had an important share in the PSG farming year, which won the Champions League for the first time and also took a title and cup in their own country. There were five PSG players in the top ten. After Dembélé and Vitinha they were Achraf Hakimi (6th), Gianluigi Donnarumma (9th) and Nuno Mendes (10th). Khvicha Kvaratskhelia became 12th, Désiré Doué 14th, Joao Neves 19th and Ruiz 25th.
On stage, Dembélé burst out in tears when he wanted to thank his family. “They have always been there for me, also in the difficult moments,” he said with a vibrating voice. “It is exceptional what I have just experienced.” Dembélé was able to relax his career at PSG after a difficult period.
“With the club we have had an incredible season and I want to thank them because they picked me up in 2023. We have won almost everything that can be won. This is an individual trophy that the collective has won. Coach Luis Enrique is like a father for me.”
Comfort prize for Yamal
For Lamine Yamal there was a consolation prize with the prize for best young person – his second in a row. Before that, eighteen -year -old Spanish international was allowed to receive the Trophy Raymond Kopa from former world champion Raphaël Varane. In the election he made it from PSG players Désiré Doué and Joao Neves. “I hope I can still win prizes in the future,” Yamal laughed.
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Yamal was good for 18 goals and 25 assists at Barça last season, with which he won title and cup, among other things. In the semi -finals of the Champions League he shone just as much, even though his club was eliminated by Inter in the semi -finals in the semi -finals. The Kopa Trophy also went to Barcelona for the women. Vicky Lopez received the prize there.
Bolmati wins Ballon d’Or for the women for the third year in a row
Among the women, the Spanish Aitana Bonmati has received the Golden Ball from the women for the third year in a row. The 27-year-old attacking midfield star won the Spanish national title with FC Barcelona, but lost the final of Arsenal in the Champions League.
At the European Championship she had to leave the final win to England with La Roja. In the election she took it from her fellow countryman Mariona Caldentey and the English Alessia Russo.
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Luis Enrique and Sarina Wiegman Trainers of the Year
For the men, Luis Enrique was chosen as the best trainer as expected. With Paris Saint-Germain, the 55-year-old Spanish coach won almost everything that can be won. Luis Enrique was real Not present in the Théâtre du Châtelet to receive the trophy Johan Cruyff. He and his club visited Olympique Marseille, a catch -up match that was shifted to Monday evening because of the bad weather.
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“I want to thank Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and especially technical director Luis Campos,” said Luis Enrique in a video message. The Spaniard hates individual recognitions in football. “The most important thing is to feel the appreciation of fans.”
Sarina Wiegman was named Coach of the Year for the Women. The Dutch Wiegman was preferred to Renée Slegers, the Dutch coach of the football players of Arsenal, who won the Champions League last year.
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The 55-year-old Wiegman extended the European title with the football players of England last summer. Spain was defeated in the final after penalties. In 2022 and 2023, Wiegman was already named UEFA Coach of the Year with the football players. She was also named Coach of the Year with the football players four times at FIFA.
