This year, Ousmane Dembélé is a favorite to win the Ballon d'Or. Author of 26 achievements since early 2025, the number 10 of Paris Saint-Germain has had an exceptional season.
Its main competitor is called Lamine Yamal. But for Claude Makelélé, the tricolor international must win the prestigious individual award. “The Ballon d'Or? Ousmane Dembélé! Lamine Yamal still has to prove himself over time. He's still a kid he has time, Ousmane has been there for longer that he is there ”said the former midfielder, on the sidelines of the Club World Cup.
Unlike Lamine Yamal, whose season is over, Ousmane Dembélé will still have the opportunity to highlight himself. And this, tomorrow, during the second semi-final of the Club World Cup between PSG and Real Madrid.
Makélélé claims the paternity of Dembélé and Mbappé
This match will also be an opportunity for Kylian Mbappé to score points in the Ballon d'Or race. “These are my sons both, you put me in a problem (smile). Give me the Ballon d'Or to me, I need it, I never had it ”quipped Makélélé to avoid having to decide between the two stars of the French team.
In the event of a coronation on September 22, in Paris, Ousmane Dembélé would become the sixth French player in history to lift the Ballon d'Or. He would succeed the record at Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984 and 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991), Zinedine Zidane (1998) and Karim Benzema (2022).
