Who to succeed Ousmane Dembélé? On October 26, in London, a new name will be added to the Ballon d’Or prize list. And this year, it’s difficult to identify a real favorite. Among the 30 nominees, several contenders can still believe in the coronation. While he will defend his title, Ousmane Dembélé already has a very clear idea of the player he would like to see succeed him.
Crowned in 2025 after an exceptional season with PSG, the French striker still has serious arguments to make. Last season, he notably participated in the second consecutive coronation of the Parisian club in the Champions League. But the competition promises to be particularly strong, with several of his teammates and friends in the French team. Kylian Mbappé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabian Ruiz are among the contenders, as are Harry Kane and Lionel Messi.
Dembélé, for his part, assures that he does not feel any particular pressure at the idea of putting his trophy back into play. “If it’s awkward to compete with friends or teammates? No, not really. May the best win. Either way, we’re not the ones voting. We don’t talk about it at all between us. We were more focused on winning the Champions League or the World Cup. I’m not afraid of losing my trophy. It’s football. It was never an obsession. A goal or a dream, yes, but not an obsession. I don’t really have any pressure about that.”he explains in an interview with France Football.
Dembélé votes for Kvaratskhelia
But the Frenchman above all delivered his prediction for this 2026 edition. And according to him, the Ballon d’Or should once again stay in Paris. “I don’t think the Ballon d’Or is undecided. It will remain in the hands of a PSG player”he says. Before choosing his favorite: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Author of an almost perfect season with PSG, the Georgian international could therefore succeed his teammate on the list. One thing is certain: Dembélé does not see the trophy leaving the capital club. It remains to be seen whether his prognosis is confirmed on October 26 in London.
