Golden ball: a big advantage for Dembélé?

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By: Manu Tournoux

Golden Ball, it is confirmed

While he has among the main favorites for the Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembélé has some assets to assert the Barcelona rivals.

Already crowned champion of France, PSG now tackles the last straight line of its season. If the last Ligue 1 match scheduled this weekend against Auxerre will be anecdotal for the capital's club, it will be quite different from the other two matches in the program: the final of the Coupe de France against Reims and especially that of the Champions League against Inter Milan.

But Ousmane Dembélé could win another trophy against Auxerre: the title of top scorer in League 1. With 21 goals on the clock, he is still in a position of strength with two lengths ahead of Mason Greenwood. But the tricolor world champion necessarily sees further.

For many, the Parisian striker appears to be the main favorite in the succession of Rodri in the Ballon d'Or's list and a victory for PSG in the Champions League final could seal his coronation. The Normand will nevertheless have to deal with a few rivals of weight, at the forefront of which Lautaro Martinez, which Ooumane Dembélé will find on May 31 in Munich, and Lamine Yamal, which will stand on the road to the Blues in the semi-finals of the League of Nations, five days later.

Raphinha, a weight competitor for Lamine Yamal

This Nations League will however be the last opportunity for the Barcelona prodigy to shine this season. As a result of the absence of FC Barcelona at the Club World Cup.

Above all, Lamine Yamal will have to deal with an XXL competitor within the Blaugrana. Until the past few weeks, the Catalan player best placed to win the Ballon d'Or seemed to be Raphinha, author of 34 goals all competitions this season as well as 19 assists. And this (big) competition from the Brazilian could deprive Lamine Yamal precious votes, which will be less the case of Ousmane Dembélé despite the beautiful season of Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha or Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.