2025 Ballon d’Or: PSG Legend Gives Reason Why Ousmane Dembele Could Lose to Lamine Yamal

• A Paris Saint-Germain legend has given a reason Ousmane Dembele could lose the Ballon d'Or award
• Dembele is the leading favourite to win the 2025 Golden Ball ahead of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal
• The France international forward helped PSG to win five trophies, including the UEFA Champions League

Ousmane Dembele is the favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or, but a Paris Saint-Germain legend has given a reason he could lose out on the award.

Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal is Dembele's closest challenger, but there is every indication that the Frenchman will be crowned on September 22.

As noted by Transfermarkt, Dembele scored 35 goals and provided a further 16 assists in 53 matches in all competitions last season, winning five trophies.

He was named the UEFA Champions League’s best player, French Ligue 1’s Player of the Season and was named the man of the match in the UEFA Super Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur.

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All these team achievements and brilliant individual accolades have put him at the top of most predicted winners’ lists ahead of the awards ceremony next month.

Why Dembele may not win Ballon d'Or

Paris Saint-Germain legend Pedro Miguel Pauleta is concerned that no player from the club might end up winning the Ballon d'Or next month, despite being favourites.

France Football nominated nine PSG players, which fans believe could hinder the kit chances, thus pushing the advantage to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal or other contenders.

The club are projecting Dembele as the winner, while Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi has publicly claimed he deserves to win, while some fans believe Vitinha has a fair shot.

Head coach Luis Enrique and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi campaigned for the Frenchman to win, a move which could upset the dressing room.

Pauleta believes this division could hinder the club from producing a winner, and hopes a PSG star wins it eventually after their remarkable season.

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“The most important thing for me is that a PSG player wins the Ballon d'Or,” Pauleta told L'Equipe, as quoted by Foot Africa.

“Of course, Ousmane had a fantastic season, with many goals and assists. I’ll say it again, but I hope a Parisian will take the prize. Ousmane is well-positioned, but we can't forget all the other players who also had great seasons and have been nominated.”

French legend picks Hakimi over Dembele

Former France international Raymond Domenech has picked Achraf Hakimi over Dembele to win the Ballon d'Or, citing the Moroccan’s consistency.

“Let’s spice things up a bit: Hakimi. Dembélé certainly deserves it, but he only woke up in January, with the match against City,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Daily Post.

“Hakimi, on the other hand, had a solid season. And as a defender, he scored important goals in the Champions League quarter-final, semi-final, and final. That’s what Dembélé didn’t do.”

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Updated Ballon d'Or ranking after PSG won Super Cup

Legit.ng analysed the new Ballon d'Or ranking after Paris Saint-Germain beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties in Udine to win the UEFA Super Cup.

Favourite Dembele was named the player of the match, thus boosting his chances of winning the Golden Ball, though fans queried the selection process.

Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng