Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué have been named the Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season, respectively, following their pivotal roles in the club’s first-ever Champions League title. The announcement, made by UEFA on June 1, 2025, comes on the heels of PSG’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena, marking the most lopsided scoreline in the competition’s history.
Dembélé, the 28-year-old French forward, earned the Player of the Season accolade for his transformative campaign, which saw him evolve from a peripheral figure to a central leader for the Parisian side. Despite not scoring in the final, Dembélé’s two assists—one for Désiré Doué and another for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—highlighted his all-action performance. His season-long contribution included eight goals and six assists in 15 Champions League matches, with standout moments such as scoring against Liverpool in the round of 16, netting twice against Brest in the play-offs, and providing crucial assists in the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Aston Villa and Arsenal. PSG coach Luis Enrique praised Dembélé’s leadership, stating, “The way he defended tonight, just that alone could be worth the Ballon d’Or. That’s how you lead a team. Goals, trophies, leadership, defence, his pressing.” Dembélé’s 33 goals and 15 assists across all competitions this season have also positioned him as a leading contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, especially in a year without major international tournaments where club performances take precedence.
Désiré Doué, the 19-year-old prodigy, clinched the Young Player of the Season award after a breathtaking display in the final. Doué, who turns 20 on June 3, scored twice and provided an assist for Achraf Hakimi’s opener, becoming only the third teenager to score in a modern Champions League final, following in the footsteps of Patrick Kluivert and Carlos Alberto. His first goal, a deflected effort off Inter’s Federico Dimarco, showcased his opportunism, while his second, a composed finish past Yann Sommer, underlined his maturity. Doué’s campaign yielded 15 goals and 16 assists in 54 appearances across all competitions, cementing his status as one of Europe’s brightest talents. “A dream has become reality,” Doué said after the match, reflecting on PSG’s historic treble, which also included the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France. His performance drew comparisons to Neymar for its flair and precision, with The Guardian describing him as “Neymar without the madness and the further maths version of Lamine Yamal’s fine art.”
PSG’s dominance was further reflected in UEFA’s Team of the Season, which included seven players from the French club: goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defenders Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, and Nuno Mendes, midfielder Vitinha, and forwards Dembélé and Doué. The remaining spots featured Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Doué’s selection over Yamal for the young player award sparked debate on platforms like X, with some users questioning the decision given Yamal’s strong season, while others celebrated Doué’s historic final performance. One X post hailed Dembélé and Doué for “saving football” from their Barcelona counterparts, reflecting the polarized sentiment among fans.
The final itself was a testament to PSG’s newfound cohesion under Luis Enrique, who became the seventh coach to win the Champions League with two different clubs. After years of near-misses with superstars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, it was the emergence of Doué and the reinvention of Dembélé that finally delivered the coveted trophy. Dembélé, once criticized for an underwhelming stint at Barcelona and a slow start at PSG, silenced doubters with his relentless work rate and creative output. Doué, who joined PSG from Rennes for €60 million last summer, proved a shrewd investment, his ball-carrying and dribbling prowess ranking in the top percentiles in Europe.