| Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez
| Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez
Young Talent Shines: Désiré Doué Edges Out Lamine Yamal for UCL Rising Star Award
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Parisian fans flood the streets to celebrate PSG’s historic Champions League victory (1:02)
Following PSG’s commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final, supporters took to the streets of Paris in jubilation, marking their first-ever Champions League title.
Published by ESPN on June 1, 2025, at 12:44 PM ET
In a remarkable display of emerging talent, 19-year-old PSG winger Désiré Doué has been named the Champions League’s Best Young Player of the Season, surpassing Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Doué’s standout performance in the final, where he netted two goals in PSG’s 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan, secured him this prestigious accolade.
Both Doué and Yamal are widely regarded as two of the most promising young talents in global football today, and their inclusion in the season’s best XI underscores their rising prominence.
Doué’s season culminated with a spectacular contribution in the final, where he not only scored twice but also assisted in the opening goal, set up by Achraf Hakimi. His impressive campaign saw PSG place seven players in the tournament’s ideal team, while Inter Milan, the finalists, managed to have only one representative.
Additionally, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé was awarded the UEFA Player of the Season honor on Sunday, recognizing his pivotal role in leading PSG to their first Champions League victory. Dembélé’s journey this season was marked by a significant transformation; after a challenging start that saw him benched for disciplinary reasons, the 28-year-old French winger scored eight goals in the competition after shifting to a more central attacking role.
Although Dembélé did not score in the final, his coach, Luis Enrique, praised his performance, stating, “I would give the Ballon d’Or to Ousmane Dembélé. His defensive effort tonight alone warrants it. Leadership, goals, resilience, and pressing-he exemplifies what it takes to lead a team.”
Note: Contributions from Reuters have been included in this report.
Champions League Team of the Season
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Nuno Mendes (PSG)
- Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Désiré Doué (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Raphinha (Barcelona)
