Dembele officially speaks out about his chances of winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembélé is rising as a top candidate for the 2025 Ballon d'Or following a breakthrough season at PSG and insightful guidance from Lionel Messi.

According to international media, Ousmane Dembélé is leading the race for this year’s Ballon d'Or, surpassing Barcelona’s young talent Lamine Yamal.

Speaking about his chances, the PSG star stated: “Being regarded as one of the frontrunners for this award is quite normal. For a footballer, there’s nothing greater than an individual accolade. The Ballon d'Or is the ultimate symbol in football. Looking at the list of legends who have won it is truly extraordinary. Fans approach me, call my name, and chant ‘Ballon d’Or, Ballon d’Or!’.”

However, Dembélé emphasized: “Honestly, Luis Enrique, the coaching staff, and the entire team are fully focused on our shared goal, especially the Champions League final. After a season like this, with four trophies, goals, and assists, it’s understandable that I’m seen as a leading candidate.”

Dembélé, already a World Cup champion and Champions League winner is now a strong contender for the most prestigious individual award thanks to his explosive form in the 2024/25 season. Reflecting on his time at Barcelona, where he faced challenges due to injuries and form, the 28-year-old revealed that Messi was his guiding light.

Joining Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, Dembélé was fortunate to be seated next to Messi in the Camp Nou locker room. In an interview with FourFourTwo, he shared: “I had a great relationship with Messi from day one. My locker was right beside his, and he gave me a lot of advice. He knew exactly what you need. Messi told me that if I wanted to reach my dreams, I had to be serious. After that, I watched and learned from what he did on the pitch.”

What impressed Dembélé the most was Messi’s innate ability to read the game: “Whether he played as a number 10 or number 9, Messi’s movement was always outstanding. Sometimes he would disappear for 4-5 minutes, but the moment he touched the ball, he immediately knew exactly what to do.”

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