In the battle between Yamal and Dembélé for the Ballon d'Or, Gérard Piqué delivered his choice … and he did not hesitate to explain publicly.
The 2025 season will undoubtedly remain in the annals,
As the Ballon d'Or race has taken on the appearance of a duel between two of the most prominent talents in European football. Ousmane Dembélé, author of a stratospheric year with PSG, and Lamine Yamal, prodigy of FC Barcelona, turn the heads of specialists and supporters. In this highly high atmosphere, Gérard Piqué was asked about his favorite for the supreme award, between these two ex-co-teams whom he knows perfectly.
An assumed choice, and not so surprising
Gérard Piqué first wanted to salute the exceptional course of the two men: “Ousmane was like a brother when I started, Lamine also has something unique. »» But when it was necessary to decide, the former Catalan defender did not hesitate to slide the name of the young Barcelona. “I prefer Lamine, he is in Barcelona, he is very special and very young, he has an incredible margin of progression. But if Ousmane wins, I will be very happy for him. »» A choice that defends itself, so much Yamal marked the season by its vertiginous statistics and its impact in major meetings.
Yamal-Dembélé: the strong choice of dive for the Golden Ball 2025
A duel that divides European football
Dembélé, repositioned in false new in Paris, chained XXL performances, ending the top scorer of PSG and major craftsman of the European coronation. But Yamal, from the age of 17, turned Barça into another dimension, chaining titles and multiplying precocity records. The two players, praised by their peers and the media, embody two generations and two philosophies. This duel fascinates, to the point of relegating the other candidates to the background.
Pique, voice of a nation and heavy trend
Difficult to imagine that the Verdict de Piqué could have surprised: its patriotism and its proximity to the Catalan club pleaded for support for the Yamal phenomenon. This choice also marries the current trend: behind the scenes, many journalists whisper that the Spaniard took a step ahead in the Golden Ball race. The performance and media aura of the young winger seem to have tipped the scales in his favor, even if nothing has yet been played.
Dembélé keeps the course, the race remains open
It remains to be seen whether these weight opinions and this media fervor will not disturb Ousmane Dembélé. The principal interested,
Questioned this week in France Football, Has played the humility card, saying that being in the list of favorites was already “a big victory”. A tongue of wood probably necessary to stay concentrated, while the final sprint towards the Ballon d'Or promises to be breathless. Anyway, the rivalry between Dembélé and Yamal has not finished pouring ink, and the suspense remains whole to the end.
