Passing in front of the media on the eve of PSG/Bayern, the Parisian president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi clearly positioned himself in favor of Ousmane Dembélé concerning the Ballon d'Or.
Some had made it the last competition to define this 2025 Golden Ball which, as for a few years now, will devote the 2024/2025 season but the Club World Cup should not frankly shake up the established order since the start of the season. Lamine Yamal is not there and continues the evenings, Dembélé and Mbappé did not start a single match until then and the status quo between the three most cited names is therefore total.
On the PSG side, candidate No. 1 is called Ousmane Dembélé and he received weight support in the person of his President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. Questioned on the eve of PSG/Bayern, the very influential leader did not go there by four paths when it was necessary to support his player in the Golden Ball race: “Ousmane's season was magnificent. For sure. If he does not win the Ballon d'Or, there is a problem … He did everything! I hope he will continue again tomorrow. But it is not the most important, the most important is the team and that everyone plays for the team. »»
A few days ago, the newspaper L'Equipe, necessarily close to France Football which organizes the election of the famous trophy, noted that PSG had so far not really campaigned for Dembélé in the Ballon d'Or contrary to what specialists in the thing can do like Real Madrid or Barça. This presidential commitment to Dembélé, rather than Vitinha or Hakimi which can aim for the top 5 or even better, is therefore a strong first gesture. For the past few weeks, Luis Enrique has also been campaigning publicly for Dembélé, even if he repeats that the trophy only interests him.
On the side of the main interested party, also designated to meet the media before this quarter -final of the World Cup of clubs, we do not necessarily have the same verve. Questioned as to the fact that his return to the ground fell in the race for this Ballon d'Or 2025, Dembélé simply replied that he “Likes to play football. Looking at his team in the stands is not easy. I want to help the team win this title and make a big competition. I want to show my qualities. I am someone who is hungry, who is concentrated and who always wants to win. »»
As for the Ballon d'Or itself, it was therefore not even mentioned by N ° 10 of PSG, decidedly much more turned towards the team than towards its individual trophies. A path that led him to the top of Ligue 1 and then Europe. There remains the world to conquer, and the Ballon d'Or will probably arrive on its own.
