- A journalist has alleged he was approached with a bribery attempt to secretly promote Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or chances online
- The Frenchman is locked in a tight race with Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal for the prestigious prize
- The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in Paris on Monday, September 22
Ousmane Dembele’s agent has dismissed any involvement in a bizarre PR storm that erupted following claims of a secret campaign to boost the winger’s Ballon d’Or chances.
A journalist recently revealed a “confidential” offer to covertly promote the Paris Saint-Germain star online, sparking speculation around the Frenchman’s bid for football’s top individual prize.
Source: Getty Images
Despite the controversy, Dembele remains the frontrunner after being named Champions League Player of the Season during PSG’s triumphant 2024–25 campaign.
The 28-year-old is expected to battle it out with teammates Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes, as well as Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.
However, the revelations have cast a shadow over his candidacy, with suggestions that behind-the-scenes manoeuvres could dent the legitimacy of a potential first Ballon d’Or win.
An investigation by The Athletic revealed that sports writer Neal Gardner received an email titled “Confidential Collaboration Opportunity” from a creative agency, proposing a month-long campaign of “carefully crafted tweets” to boost the narrative around Ousmane Dembélé.
After Gardner shared the email publicly, the agency was identified as India-based Bangrr International.
Its founder, Ali Husain, later claimed the message came from an 18-year-old intern acting without approval, describing it as an “unsolicited inquiry” made out of “educational curiosity” to research influencer rates.
As reported by Goal, Husain apologised to both Gardner and Dembele, calling the incident a “misunderstanding.”
The player has been fully distanced from the episode, with Dembele’s representatives firmly denying any knowledge of or involvement in the proposed social media push.
Gardner, who received the email, said he had no idea who was behind the initiative but decided to go public to “raise awareness” of what he described as a “ridiculous” situation.
Below is the email received by Gardener shared on X:
The plan itself was riddled with flaws: the agency targeted Gardner, a known Barcelona supporter, hoping his pro-Dembélé tweets would seem authentic.
Yet the biggest misstep was timing, voting for the 2025 Ballon d’Or had already closed, making the proposed month-long campaign completely pointless ahead of next Monday’s awards ceremony in Paris.
Source: Getty Images
When is the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala?
The Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual honour will soon be decided, as the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala takes place on Monday, 22 September 2025, at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
The glittering ceremony, now just 15 days away, will once again gather the world’s finest players under one roof to crown the best of the best.
This year promises yet another explosive chapter, with Ousmane Dembélé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal tipped to battle it out for top honours. The countdown is officially on, and fans around the globe will be watching as football’s elite converge in Paris to see who emerges with the game’s ultimate prize.
Why Dembele merits Ballon d’Or 2025
YEN.com.gh earlier featured three reasons Ousmane Dembele would be a worthy winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or following the shortlist announcement last Thursday.
The former Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona winger had an excellent 2024/25 season with Paris Saint-Germain, winning four trophies.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
