- The countdown to the Ballon d’Or has begun, but Ousmane Dembele already appears to seal football’s most coveted crown
- From fragile talent to PSG’s ultimate game-changer, Dembele’s 2024/25 season may have rewritten the script of world football
- As Lamine Yamal rises and Kylian Mbappé fights for relevance, one man stands taller than them all
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is fast approaching, but in truth, the race already feels decided, with Ousmane Dembele emerging as an undisputed winner.
Once hampered by injuries and inconsistency, the ex-Borusia Dortmund and Barcelona winger has delivered the season of his life at Paris Saint-Germain.
Source: Getty Images
His 2024/25 campaign has been so complete, so decisive, that it is hard to imagine anyone else walking away with football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Here are five compelling reasons Ousmane Dembele may have already clinched football’s most respected individual honour.
1. Dembele’s Champions League glory
For years, PSG were haunted by failure in Europe’s premier competition. That changed this season, and Dembélé was the driving force behind their long-awaited triumph.
According to Transfermarkt, Dembeel racked up eight goals and six assists in 15 matches, leading from the front and saved his most dazzling performance for the final, inspiring PSG to a crushing 5–0 victory over Inter Milan.
In a huge act of recognition, UEFA crowned him Player of the Season, confirming what fans already knew: Dembélé was the heartbeat of PSG’s historic Champions League run.
2. Ousmane Dembele’s career-best numbers
Silverware is important, but Ballon d’Or winners are also judged on individual brilliance. Dembélé finally produced the kind of numbers that match his talent: 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances.
He finished as Ligue 1’s joint-top scorer with 21 goals and was named the league’s Player of the Year.
Known for his flair and dribbling, he added ruthless efficiency to his game — proving he could not just dazzle, but also decide matches with end product.
Source: Getty Images
3. Evolution into a complete player
This season marked a transformation in Dembélé’s career. No longer the mercurial winger who flitted in and out of games, he became PSG’s tactical fulcrum.
Luis Enrique often used him centrally, and Dembélé responded by linking play, pressing tirelessly, and showing consistency across the entire campaign.
The questions about his fitness and reliability have faded. What remains is a footballer at the peak of his powers, delivering week after week.
4. Dembele’s world-wide recognition
Individual accolades are already piling up. Beyond UEFA’s award and Ligue 1’s top honour, Dembélé has dominated headlines across Europe.
Pundits and journalists are united in their assessment that he is the frontrunner, while bookmakers’ odds strongly favour him.
5. Dembélé eclipses Mbappé and Yamal in 2025
Finally, while other stars had strong seasons, such as Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, none combined brilliance and silverware on Dembele’s scale.
For example, Yamal racked up goals, had memorable moments, but falls short of the PSG attacker’s haul of trophies (quadruple).
With PSG finally conquering Europe and Dembele at the centre of it all, the gap between him and his rivals has never been clearer.
From a player once written off as injury-prone to the man now standing on football’s highest pedestal, Ousmane Dembélé’s journey is one of redemption and fulfilment.
The Ballon d’Or may not yet have been handed out, but make no mistake: the 2025 edition already belongs to him.
Let’s just wait for confirmation on September 22.
Dembele-Yamal Ballon d’Or race
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on the latest Ballon d’Or rankings during the recent World Cup qualifiers, where the spotlight fell on the growing battle between Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.
The race between the PSG star and Barcelona’s teenage sensation has since intensified, keeping fans glued to every performance.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
