The Ballon d’Or 2025, to be awarded on September 22, is already a hot topic of discussion as the season draws to a close. Present at a press conference on Saturday, Kylian Mbappé, 26-year-old Real Madrid striker and captain of the French national team, was asked to comment on the possible winner between Ousmane Dembélé (28-year-old striker for Paris Saint-Germain and Les Bleus) and Lamine Yamal (17-year-old striker for Barcelona and Spain).
Mbappé “I’m going for Dembélé. It’s very clear!”
“Would I vote for Dembélé? Yes. Is there any need to explain? We’re talking about Yamal and Dembélé, I’m going for Dembélé. It’s very clear!
Things change very quickly, as the latest winners have shown. We weren’t talking about certain players who won in the end. Is it September yet? A lot will happen between now and then, but today we’re talking about Ousmane and Lamine. That’s why I replied.”
Hardly a winner today, Mbappé quite logically backs his national team-mate. Dembélé is a very strong candidate, with a remarkable season at PSG and collective titles including the all-important Champions League.
However, he also points out that favourites can quickly change and that there have been surprises among the winners. With a thought for the Club World Cup and a possible remarkable performance on his part? Perhaps. In any case, this competition will count.
Which is also why it’s too early to choose a Ballon d’Or winner. But it’s the big topic of the moment for keeping busy between matches. Fortunately, the mercato is also gradually taking hold.
