Ousmane Dembélé Emerges as Top Contender for Ballon d’Or

Ousmane Dembélé, the 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, has become the frontrunner for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, according to a recent poll. The French international has been in exceptional form since the beginning of 2025, establishing himself as a serious contender for football’s highest individual honor.

A mid-March survey revealed overwhelming support for Dembélé, who garnered 40.9% of the votes. His closest competitors included Barcelona’s Raphinha with 25% and young sensation Lamine Yamal with 8.8%. French captain Kylian Mbappé and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah rounded out the top five with 8% and 7.4% respectively.

Neither Dembélé nor Mbappé have previously won the Ballon d’Or, with Mbappé’s highest finish being third place in 2023. The last French recipient was Karim Benzema in 2022 during his tenure at Real Madrid.

Dembélé’s impressive performance in Ligue 1 this season includes 20 goals, making him the league’s top scorer. His crucial equalizer against Liverpool in a recent Champions League match helped PSG advance to the next round. The striker has been particularly prolific in 2025, netting 21 goals in just 16 appearances.

With 29 goals across all competitions this season, Dembélé has far surpassed his previous best of 14 goals achieved with Barcelona in the 2018-19 campaign. The former World Cup winner now has an opportunity to further bolster his case for the Ballon d’Or in France’s upcoming UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia.

Despite his club success, Dembélé has only scored six times for the national team, with his most recent goal coming against Belgium in a Nations League match last September. As he continues to shine for both club and country, the football world eagerly anticipates whether Dembélé can maintain his exceptional form and secure the coveted Ballon d’Or.