Winner of the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the UEFA Super Cup, 28-year-old forward Ousmane Dembélé has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or. Speaking to FourFourTwo, the Frenchman described the award as the “Holy Grail” of personal accolades.
Dembélé: “It’s only natural to be considered one of the favorites for this prize.”
“Before the Champions League final, people were shouting at me, ‘Ousmane, Ballon d’Or!’ But to be honest, we were all focused on the team, especially on the final.
For an individual award, there’s nothing greater for a footballer. It’s the Holy Grail of football. When you look at all the legends who have won it, it’s truly exceptional.
After a season like this – four trophies, goals, assists – it’s only natural to be considered one of the favorites for this prize.”
For an attacking player in particular, the Ballon d’Or is widely seen as the ultimate career accolade. There’s no doubt that Dembélé deserves to be in the conversation after such an outstanding season, lifting multiple trophies in Parisian colors.
That said, football history has also shown how players can suffer setbacks after finishing second or third in the Ballon d’Or, even when they were tipped as favorites. Unlike team trophies won on the pitch, this award is based on voting — and ultimately, on perception.
On paper, Dembélé has every chance of winning, though nothing is guaranteed. Still, for PSG, seeing one of their players present the Ballon d’Or at the Parc des Princes — after winning the Champions League and the Super Cup — would mark yet another unforgettable moment in what has already been an extraordinary 2025 for the club.
