PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or

PARIS (AP):

Ousmane Dembele won the Ballon d'Or for leading Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League title and Aitana Bonmati received the women's award for a third successive year, yesterday.

Dembele succeeded Manchester City midfielder Rodri to become the sixth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema.

Bonmati won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. She's only the third player in the award's history to win three in a row after Platini (1983-85) and Lionel Messi (2009-12).

The award capped a remarkable turn of fortune for Dembele, who at one point last season was snubbed by PSG coach Luis Enrique for disciplinary reasons. But once repositioned as a No. 9, he became a scoring machine and was inspirational in PSG's historic Champions League campaign. The French club also completed a quadruple last season.

Dembele was praised after the Champions League final for the way he contributed to PSG's pressing and his ability to defend during the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan. He delivered 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 official matches last season, and was involved in 14 goals (eight goals, six assists) in the Champions League in 15 appearances.

Dembele received the Ballon d'Or from former winner Ronaldinho and teared up during his acceptance speech in which he asked his mother to join him on the stage.

"It's incredible to win a trophy like this," he said in French. "I worked for the team to help win PSG's first Champions League. To then be rewarded with an individual trophy like the Ballon d'Or is truly exceptional."

Dembele won ahead of teenage star Lamine Yamal. The forward, who turned 18 in July, helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season and reach the Champions League semi-finals. Yamal was given the Kopa award for the best under-21 player for the second straight year.

BEST PLAYER

Although Bonmati lost to England in a penalty shootout in the Women's European Championship final last summer, she was named the best player of the tournament, which she began just days after being hospitalised by viral meningitis.

Bonmati's spot kick in the shootout was one of two saved by England's Hannah Hampton, who was voted the best women's goalkeeper.

"Third time in a row here and I still can't believe it," Bonmati said "I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life."

She won a domestic treble with Barcelona and also reached the Champions League final.

Barcelona have won the last five women's awards, but it was expected an Englishwoman would win for the first time. England won the Euros and Arsenal took the Women's Champions League. But with five England players among the women's top 10 nominees, the highest placed was Alessia Russo at third.

- AP