‘It’s a 50-50’… Former PSG coach and player believes the Ballon d’Or will either go to Barcelona star or Ousmane Dembele | OneFootball

Individual awards are something that FC Barcelona players always keep an eye out for. After all, they are among the best players in the world so it logically makes sense for them to do so. However, even at Barcelona, collective success comes before individual accolades.

With players like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal at the club, both of whom have already renewed their contracts as well now, there is always a desire to aim for the stars. Yet, even individual success is often associated closely with the team’s overall performance.

The reality of some major awards for Barcelona

Following the recent UEFA Champions League final, one where Paris Saint-Germain ended up winning over Inter Milan, a lot of opinions might be swayed. In case of the Golden Boy award, it would now seem difficult for Pau Cubarsi to end up winning it over Desire Doue for instance.

As for the Ballon d’Or, arguably the most coveted individual award in football, Barça’s two most probable contenders remain Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Moreover, they will now likely have to climb a mountain to win that award over former teammate Ousmane Dembele.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal remains a strong Ballon d’Or contender. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal still remains a top contender

However, former PSG player and coach Luis Fernandez recently gave his opinion on RMC’s Grandes Gueules about the award and claimed that it is still extremely close between Yamal and Dembele:

“Ousmane Dembélé is a Ballon d’Or contender, but young Désiré Doué isn’t bad either—he’s on the right path for the future! It’s a 50-50 between Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.”

While the UCL may now be behind them, there are still other competitions left to be played. Barcelona and Lamine Yamal may not be there at the upcoming Club World Cup, but the young Spaniard might get a chance to improve his chances in the upcoming UEFA Nations League clash between Spain and France.

The outing would provide a direct clash of the two Ballon d’Or favorites, and irrespective of how much it actually influences the votings, it should be a great occasion. Still, whatever ends up happening, Yamal sure seems to have the backing of various legends when it comes his own quality as a player.