Followers, pundits, and even gamers and golf equipment are bracing for one of the vital hotly contested Ballon d’Or races in years. With the 2025 ceremony simply days away, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal stand as the 2 main contenders for the celebrated award. The French winger has simply delivered essentially the most dominant season of his profession, whereas Yamal’s rise has been nothing wanting spectacular.
However within the buildup to the ceremony, PSG’s sporting director has gone a step additional — utilizing a putting five-word declare that invoked Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — to make the case that there ought to be no debate at throughout who deserves the respect.
Since his transfer from Barcelona in 2023, Ousmane Dembele has gone from being a mercurial winger to a false 9 mastermind underneath Luis Enrique. His 2024-25 season was the top of that transformation: 35 objectives and 16 assists in 53 matches. He has additionally been topped as Ligue 1 prime scorer, Ligue 1 greatest participant, and greatest Champions League participant.
Most significantly, he led Paris Saint-Germain to a historic treble — Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and their first-ever Champions League title. As PSG’s director, Luis Campos, put it on RMC Sport, “He was chosen as the perfect participant within the Champions League and the perfect within the league. He has gained every part.”
On the opposite aspect of the controversy stands Lamine Yamal, simply 18 years outdated, however already the heartbeat of Barcelona. {The teenager} scored 18 objectives and offered 25 assists throughout all competitions, main the Blaugrana to a home treble — La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Tremendous Cup.
PSG director’s five-word declare
Essentially the most headline-grabbing second got here when Campos invoked two of soccer’s most iconic names to hammer dwelling his level. “If his [Dembele’s] title was Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there could be no dialogue,” Campos declared. “If he doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or, it’s as a result of the individuals who voted don’t have the competence to vote for the Ballon d’Or.”
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
“As a result of the stats he has and every part he’s gained are very sturdy. For my part, the one who clearly deserves the Ballon d’Or is Ousmane Dembele. For me, there’s no dialogue.” Campos’ feedback have solely intensified the controversy, with PSG followers rallying behind their star and Barcelona supporters declaring Yamal’s youth and decisive moments in large video games.
