PSG star Dembele expected to beat Yamal to Ballon d’Or

PSG forward Ousmane Dembele is widely expected to edge Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal and win the men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, while Aitana Bonmati is tipped to claim her third consecutive women’s award.

Football’s biggest names will gather at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris for the annual ceremony, which has been dominated for years by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who together won the prize 13 times between 2008 and 2023.

Last year, the award went to Manchester City midfielder Rodri after he captained Spain to Euro 2024 glory. However, Rodri is not in contention this year following an injury-hit season, leaving 28-year-old Dembele as the frontrunner from a nominee list heavily featuring Paris Saint-Germain players.

Nine members of PSG’s squad, which won the Champions League for the first time after a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final, are among the 30 nominees. Alongside Dembele are Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now with Manchester City.

Dembele strengthened his claim to the prize with a brilliant campaign, stepping into the void left by Kylian Mbappe and scoring 35 goals across all competitions. His performances helped PSG secure a domestic treble and reach the Club World Cup final.

“It is nice after what was a wonderful season with PSG,” Dembele told Le Monde, acknowledging that he is one of the favorites but adding, “we will see what happens.”

Some PSG nominees may miss the event after their Ligue 1 match against Marseille was rescheduled due to storms, but Dembele, currently sidelined with injury, is likely to attend.

Yamal, just 18 years old, remains one of Dembele’s strongest rivals after a breakout season at Barcelona, where he is seen as Messi’s natural heir. He netted 18 goals in 55 appearances last season, winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and also helped Spain to European Championship success. He previously won the Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player at last year’s gala.

“I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or, I dream of winning many,” Yamal said recently.

Other notable nominees include Viktor Gyokeres, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk, who were instrumental in Liverpool’s 2024-2025 Premier League title win. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are also on the list, with Real Madrid ending last year’s boycott of the awards.

The Ballon d’Or is awarded based on performances from the previous season and is voted for by journalists representing the top 100 nations in FIFA’s rankings, with the women’s category limited to the top 50.

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In the women’s race, Bonmati remains the player to beat despite Spain’s penalty-shootout defeat to England in the Euro final and Barcelona’s Champions League loss to Arsenal. The 27-year-old was named player of the tournament at the Euros and is seeking her third straight win.

Her closest competition may come from Barcelona teammate and two-time winner Alexia Putellas or members of England’s triumphant Euro 2024 squad, including Lucy Bronze, Hannah Hampton, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson, and Chloe Kelly, who scored the decisive penalty in the final.