Lamine Yamal Gets Strong Ballon d’Or Message Over PSG Star | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé has positioned himself as the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or after a remarkable 2024–25 season with PSG. The French winger played a key role in PSG’s historic treble, helping the club capture the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France.

Dembélé’s numbers speak for themselves: 35 goals and 16 assists across 53 appearances. Beyond the stats, his decisive performances on football’s biggest stages have reinforced his status as the leading contender for the sport’s top individual honor.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is also vying for the award, contributing 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches. His standout performances were instrumental in Barcelona securing La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España, keeping him firmly in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

Should PSG Star Ousmane Dembélé Win Ballon d’Or?

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With the award being given on Monday, there’s a debate about which of these two players should win that honor. L’Équipe du soir pundit Johan Micoud believes the accolade should go to Yamal over the Frenchman.

“Honestly, it wouldn’t shock me at all if [Dembélé] won it,” Micoud said. “I think he’s one of the big favorites. Personally, based on my own preference, I’d put Yamal ahead of him. But that’s just me. Everyone said at the start of the year that he wasn’t decisive, that he was struggling.

“But I watched the games — he was very impactful in Barça’s play, even if he didn’t have the stats. Later, the numbers came. And above all, there were the two Champions League semifinals, home and away. For me, those were two exceptional matches from him. Two Champions League games against Inter.”

Moreover, the L’Equipe pundit believes that another PSG player should be seen as a more serious candidate to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Dembélé.

“For me, when it comes to the Ballon d’Or season, if I had to reward someone from PSG, I’m sorry, but I’d put Hakimi ahead of Dembélé,” Micoud added. “That said, for me, Dembélé has lit up everything he’s done since January. I think he’s been fantastic for the team.

“Beyond his goals, he set the tempo and brought a spirit to this PSG that maybe lacked a bit of character. And it would also be rewarding him because I feel he’s always been the sidekick to a superstar in his team.”