The quiet TikTok star wife behind Ousmane Dembele's journey to Ballon d'Or

When Dembele burst into tears at the Ballon d'Or award ceremony on Monday night, his mother Fatimata was by his side, but behind the limelight, it was Rima, who played a huge role in transforming the PSG star's life and career.

After joining Barcelona in 2017 for US$126 million to replace Neymar, Dembele went through six challenging years at Camp Nou, plagued by 784 days sidelined due to injuries, including 14 muscle tears, failing to meet expectations.

His behavior off the pitch drew criticism, with late arrivals, late nights gaming and inconsistent diet. A 2019 video where he and Antoine Griezmann was accused of mocking an Asian technician, only added to the scrutiny, according to Daily Mail.

Ousmane Dembele during his acceptance speech after winning the Ballon d'Or on Sept. 22, 2025. Photo by Reuters

The turning point came after his 2021 marriage to Rima, a Moroccan TikTok star known for her discreet lifestyle and adherence to Islamic principles.

Rima maintained her privacy even after marrying a football star. She locked her TikTok account of over 300,000 followers, wiped out Instagram and only shared selective travel and fashion content, and never put photos of her family online, Telegrafi reported.

Her influence prompted Dembele to fix his habits, focusing on nutrition, hiring a personal fitness coach and taking responsibility both as a father and a husband. In 2022, the couple welcomed their first daughter, affectionately nicknamed "The Catalan Girl," as she was born in Barcelona.

Ousmane Dembele with his wife Rima Edbouche and their daughter after winning the Champions League on May 31, 2025. Photo by UEFA

After the awards ceremony, Rima posted a simple photo of Dembele holding the Ballon d'Or with the caption: "Proud."

Daily Mail praised her transition from social media star to behind-the-scene wife who provided spiritual support, preserving family privacy while guiding her partner.

Dembele, born in Vernon, France in 1997, became the sixth French player to claim the Ballon d'Or, football's most prestigious individual honor.