Why Ousmane Dembele, not Lamine Yamal, should win the 2025 Ballon d'OrWhy Ousmane Dembele, not Lamine Yamal, should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or

See the main arguments in favour of Ousmane Dembélé winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Why Ousmane Dembele, not Lamine Yamal, should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or
Why Ousmane Dembele, not Lamine Yamal, should win the 2025 Ballon d’Or
Tonight, as the football world comes together for the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony—the game’s most coveted individual award—all eyes will be on Paris. Legends, present celebrities, and future icons will all be shining on the red carpet, but only two names will be in the spotlight: Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.

One is an 18-year-old youthful prodigy who is rewriting history, while the other is a revived superstar who led PSG to their best season ever. Only one should be at the top when the curtain lifts, despite the heated discussion and thrilling suspense.

Although Yamal’s ascent has enthralled the globe, Dembélé is the legitimate heir to football’s golden crown due to his dominance, consistency, and decisive genius on the grandest stages. The Ballon d’Or race may be close.

The Ballon d’Or Prerequisites

It is crucial to take into account the criteria that determine who wins the Ballon d’Or before evaluating their merits:

Goals, assists, inventiveness, and consistency throughout the season are examples of individual performance and statistics.

Contributions to club and national team successes are examples of collective accomplishments.

decisive effect on important games, such as finals and high-stakes contests.

consistency across competitions—performing not only at home but also abroad and in Europe.

Being a leader on and off the pitch requires influence and sportsmanship.

Ousmane Dembélé has outperformed his younger opponent in every way.

Dembélé’s Individual Brilliance

Dembélé
Dembélé
This season has been Dembélé’s most productive statistically:

13 assists and 33 goals across all competitions.

21-goal Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner.

With eight goals and six assists in 15 games, he was named the Champions League Player of the Season.

The calibre and timing of Dembélé’s goals, in addition to his stats, set him apart from Yamal. He was decisive in the season’s pivotal games and did not only score in routine games.

His goals against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup, as well as his goal in the Champions League final, highlight his capacity to perform effectively under duress.

The Argument for Collective Success

Players who strike a balance between individual excellence and team victories have consistently won the Ballon d’Or. Dembélé played a key role in PSG’s historic “French poker” victory, which included the UEFA Champions League, the French Super Cup, the Coupe de France, and Ligue 1.

Because Dembélé stepped up, PSG’s protracted pursuit of European glory came to an end. Because of his crucial efforts in the Champions League knockout stages, he was the most important player in PSG’s European history. Yamal, on the other hand, led Barcelona to a lesser degree of collective glory despite his brilliance.

The Player in the Big Match

Dembélé's
Dembélé

The way that great players perform when everything is on the line is what makes them memorable. Those moments marked Dembélé’s 2025 campaign:

scoring in the Champions League final’s opening goal.

scoring an important goal in the semifinals against Bayern Munich.

delivering in the Club World Cup match against Real Madrid.

His consistent performance in high-stakes games puts him ahead of Yamal, whose contributions were admirable but more developmental in nature rather than the main match-winner.

Promise versus Experience

Lamine Yamal’s future is certain even at the age of 18. He has demonstrated extraordinary talent and maturity, raising the possibility that he will win the Ballon d’Or in the upcoming ten years. However, the present is the focus of this award, not the future. Dembélé’s season was noteworthy historically in addition to being statistically superior. He pushed down barriers, led a team, and used trophies to solidify his reputation.

What the Ballon d’Or Is About

The Ballon d’Or is about capturing the spirit of football, not just about numbers. That is precisely what Dembélé’s 2025 season embodies: genius, leadership, decisive influence, and team achievement. It would be a betrayal of the principles the award stands for to refuse him this distinction in favour of a player whose time will undoubtedly come.

Final judgement

The future lies with Lamine Yamal. His ascent has been remarkable, and for years to come, anyone discussing the Ballon d’Or will surely mention him. Ousmane Dembélé, nevertheless, is the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Dembélé has earned the opportunity to lift football’s most prestigious individual award thanks to his remarkable stats, memorable goals, and leadership that helped PSG win its first Champions League title. He had his Ballon d’Or, his moment, and his season.

Why Ousmane Dembele, not Lamine Yamal, should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or
Why Ousmane Dembele, not Lamine Yamal, should win the 2025 Ballon d’Or

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