Paris Saint-Germain and France star Ousmane Dembélé is the frontrunner to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with the award ceremony set to take place this Monday evening at 9 PM at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Dembélé enjoyed a remarkable season with the Parisian club, playing a pivotal role in securing five major titles: the French League, the French Cup, the French Super Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup. Furthermore, PSG finished as runners-up in the Club World Cup held this summer in the United States. Individually, Dembélé was named the best player in both the French League and the Champions League.
Should he win, Dembélé would become the sixth French player to claim the prestigious award, joining an illustrious list that includes Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991), Zinedine Zidane (1998), and Karim Benzema (2022).
His main competitors for the award are reported to be his former Barcelona teammates Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, his current PSG colleague Achraf Hakimi, and Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah.
In a show of national support, French captain Kylian Mbappé publicly backed his compatriot, stating, “I will be happy if Dembélé wins the award. He is my friend, and I have supported him from the beginning. I will be watching him on TV and wish him the best of luck.”
Ousmane Dembélé Leads Contenders for 2025 Ballon d’Or Ahead of Tonight’s Ceremony
