Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or triumph on Monday was a touching moment for both him and his family, symbolizing their pride in cultural roots. Dembele won soccer’s most esteemed individual award for his pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s triumphant treble-winning season, highlighted by their inaugural UEFA Champions League title. He netted 35 goals last season, marking a personal best.
Dembele celebrated the win, thanking his family during his speech, acknowledging “supported me in the difficult moments.” He mentioned his parents’ African heritage, with his father hailing from Mali and his mother, Fatima, being Mauritanian-Senegalese from the village of Waly Diantang in Mauritania. Fatima highlighted Dembele’s identity in a social media video where she announced plans to take the Ballon d’Or to various African locations.
馃摴 Fatima Dembele announces a trophy tour in Senegal 馃嚫馃嚦
“We’re going to bring it everywhere, Waly [Diantang, Mauritania], Senegal. This is the Ballon d’Or of all of Africa.”
This event marks a significant moment in history for Dembele and acknowledges the achievement’s importance not just for him, but for Africa as a whole. Other notable players of African descent who have won the Ballon d’Or include Karim Benzema and Zinedine Zidane.
