Upamecano Moved to Tears by Dembélé's Emotional Ballon d'Or Victory Speech

Ousmane Dembélé has reached the pinnacle of football glory. On September 21, the Paris Saint-Germain forward was honored with the 2025 Ballon d’Or, surpassing contenders Lamine Yamal and Vitinha.

As the tenth player from the capital’s club to achieve this feat, Dembélé joins the ranks of legendary French players who have won the prestigious award, such as Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema.

Upamecano’s touching tribute

Dembélé’s triumph, and particularly his heartfelt speech upon receiving the trophy, resonated with fans and fellow players alike. One notable admirer is Dayot Upamecano, a defender for Bayern Munich and a long-time teammate of Dembélé in the French national team.

“When I saw him lift the Ballon d’Or, it brought tears to my eyes. We went to the same school and played on the same fields,” Upamecano shared in an interview. “We all knew he would become a great player, but seeing him thank his family and friends was truly special. I regretted not being able to attend the ceremony, but witnessing his moment was incredible.”

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Dembélé’s anticipated return from injury

Currently sidelined due to an injury sustained on September 5 during a World Cup 2026 qualifier against Ukraine, Dembélé is diligently working towards his comeback. While continuing his rehabilitation in Qatar, he is eyeing a return to action soon.

According to sources, Dembélé has targeted October 17 for his comeback, coinciding with PSG’s match against Strasbourg in Ligue 1. With his recovery progressing well, he is hopeful to rejoin Luis Enrique’s squad at that time.