Ousmane Dembélé has strengthened his position as the leading candidate for the 2025 Ballon d’Or following PSG’s Super Cup win against Tottenham on 13 August.
The French winger was the Man of the Match after assisting PSG’s stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw. PSG won the ensuing penalty shootout 4-3.
The Super Cup capped an exceptional season in which Dembélé collected five trophies, including PSG’s first UEFA Champions League title and the Ligue 1 crown.
In the 2024-2025 season, Dembélé recorded 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 matches across all competitions. He topped Ligue 1’s scoring chart with 21 goals.
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He also created the most goal involvements in the league, averaging 1.40 per match. His goals included decisive strikes in Champions League knockout matches.
PSG gained domestic dominance with victories in the Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and the Coupe de la Ligue.
Internationally, Dembélé featured in France’s UEFA Nations League semi-final defeat to Spain, contributing to a high-scoring 5-4 contest.
Power rankings from GOAL, Sporting News, and Transfermarkt had all listed him first, citing his consistency and influence in high-stakes matches.
Rival Contenders
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is considered a key challenger after winning La Liga and Copa del Rey while leading the league in assists.
Other names included Raphinha, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah, each with strong individual seasons.
Historical trends had shown Champions League winners receiving the award in most recent years.
Media discussions noted potential vote splitting between PSG players, though his Champions League final performance was decisive in securing support.
If Dembélé were to win, he would become the first Frenchman since Karim Benzema to claim the award.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony has been scheduled for 22 September 2025, with 180 journalists voting based on the previous season’s performances.
