As the Ballon d’Or award approaches, the debates increase in intensity and the contenders inevitably begin to make their voices heard. Kylian Mbappé has never hidden his ambitions and the Frenchman has once again assumed his candidacy in recent hours. As Real Madrid launched their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabéu, the French striker found the net to allow the Merengues to take the lead. Served by Brahim Diaz, he took advantage of a wavering Italian defense to score Madrid’s first goal in the 14th minute, his 71st in the Champions League, before seeing Federico Valverde double the lead a few minutes later. A new achievement which inevitably adds to the Frenchman’s record, already particularly solid after a season marked by his performances with Real Madrid and especially his exceptional World Cup with the Blues. Asked about his chances of finally winning the supreme individual trophy, Mbappé also displayed assumed confidence. “When you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, you are inevitably associated with these awards. When people pass me in the street, they talk about it. This is a very rewarding distinction for any player. I made history this summer in the most prestigious competition. But there is still a long way to go. And everyone is free to think who is the best player in the world (…) It’s very personal. Everyone has their opinion. Some will say yes, others no. It’s a debate…and not everyone has to think like me. This year could be a good year for the Ballon d’Or, but it is awarded by journalists, and they will decide. »
An outing which quickly caused a reaction in France as in Spain, as the competition promises to be fierce for this 2026 edition. The list of 30 nominees confirmed the density of the casting with Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise, Rodri, Lionel Messi and even Ousmane Dembélé, title holder. Mbappé can legitimately believe in his chances, especially since his goal against Inter strengthened a candidacy already supported by his offensive performance and his status as top scorer in the last World Cup. But in this particularly close battle, the Parisian remained one of his most serious competitors. A few hours before PSG’s match against Slovan Bratislava, Dembélé had also cooled the ardor of his former teammate by displaying a very clear conviction. “I don’t think it’s undecided, this trophy. I think it will stay in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player. My top 3? Everything mixed: Kvara, Harry Kane, who had a very, very good season, and I think Kylian Mbappé. » A statement which said a lot about the Frenchman’s confidence in the season achieved by PSG, but also about his desire to place the Parisian collective at the heart of the debate. And while Mbappé had just scored with Real Madrid, Dembélé now had the opportunity to respond to him in the best possible way, where words become secondary and performances on the pitch take on their full value.
Double scorer and decisive passer
The meeting was particularly anticipated for Ousmane Dembélé, especially in a Parc des Princes which was waiting for a reaction after a completely unsuccessful start to the season on an accounting level. Facing Slovan Bratislava, the 2025 Ballon d’Or was quick to remind us why he remains one of the main candidates for his own succession. From the 17th minute, when Nuno Mendes had just found the post, Dembélé followed perfectly to regain the ball and open the scoring. Six minutes later, he was there again to score the second Parisian goal, taking advantage of an action initiated by the pressing before finishing with a header. In the space of a few minutes, the Frenchman had already struck twice and launched a European evening which would quickly turn into a Parisian demonstration. Ferran Torres would then take part in the festival before the break, but Dembélé had already left his mark on the meeting. PSG finally led 3-0 after 45 minutes, with total control of the ball and offensive activity which contrasted sharply with the difficulties encountered since the start of the exercise.
At the microphone of Canal+Luis Enrique did not miss the opportunity to congratulate his 2025 Ballon d’Or.Today, the player who surprised me the most was Ousmane Dembélé. What intensity, with and without the ball, as usual. What if I stole it? No, no, no, it’s him. It’s a real pleasure, I enjoy seeing him every day with this ambition that he has shown over the last three weeks“, he declared, before adding at a press conference. “This is the Ousmane we know that we have seen over the last 3 years. When you see his ability to create and press, it’s a real pleasure. I’m happy for him. He doesn’t need to play more minutes. You have to be progressive in your physical condition. It’s wonderful to see a player of his level“. And above all, Dembélé responded to Mbappé where it matters most in this race for the Ballon d’Or, on the pitch.
While the Madrilenian had scored the day before against Inter to launch his European campaign without really shining in the game, the Parisian scored a double at the Parc des Princes and carried his team on an evening where the reigning European champion absolutely had to find some color. His activity, his pressing and his efficiency perfectly illustrated the profile which allowed him to win the trophy last year. PSG finally came through to win largely against Slovan Bratislava (6-1), with a particularly convincing first European victory after a worrying start to the season. Dembélé did not need to add more in the declarations to defend his candidacy. A few hours after explaining that he thought the Ballon d’Or would remain in the hands of a PSG player, he delivered the perfect response to his former partner on the pitch. Mbappé scored with Real Madrid, Dembélé signed a double with Paris. The battle is far from over, but the Frenchman reiterated that he intends to defend his crown until the end.
