Former France midfielder Alain Giresse believes that Ousmane Dembele is the leading candidate to call the Ballon d’Or and says “there is no debate” that he has the advantage over Lamine Yamal because of Paris Saint-Germain who won the Champions League.
Dembele scored 35 goals in 53 games in all competitions last season, including eight as PSG made European champions for the first time, with Luis Enrique also landing Ligue 1 and Coupe de France trophies.
And Giresse, who was part of France’s midfield mourned the “magic square” along with Michel Platini, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana, says he should give him the edge on Yamal, who helped Barca win La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Lamine Yamal “Missing from Performance” – Giresse
He told Le Parisien: “Of course, there is Yamal, who emerges exceptional technical qualities. But, for me, he is still lacking in performance at the highest level.
“Dembele was above all a player who committed himself to the club and in the Champions League) showed his qualities with incredible support. This is an important factor but in the eyes of the public he has the same effect as a spectacular technical move. In the field, however, he has the same value.
“In my opinion, Dembele has the title to validate his season, a title that Yamal has no.”
PSG have nine people nominated for trophy That will be given in Paris on September 22.
On an individual level, Giresse admits that Yamal may have the edge and indicated that that is why Lionel Messi has eight ballons d’Or compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s fifth.
He added: “Messi has won so many times because people won by his technique and the spectacular move instead of Ronaldo’s phenomenal physical side.
“Like them, Yamal and Dembele do not have the same qualities in their games but I vote for Dembele. He, for me, the representative of a club that had an exceptional season. He made us forget that, by December, we had an unfinished taste when we watched the PSG games. He was the one who changed things.
“He was the one who raised the addition of this team. In my opinion, you cannot reward an individual in a non-working team. Yamal is not in a team that does not work but cannot compare a national title (La Liga) with a Champions League.
“There is no debate. Dembele, I hope, will have the minds of people more than Yamal thanks to the victory in the Champions League.”
How does the ballon voting work d’Or?
The abbreviated list of 30 major prizes is voted by a board of journalists from France and L’Equipe football.
One of the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings then votes for their top 10 from each list with each position given by a certain number of points.
- First place: 15 points
- Second place: 12 points
- Third place: 10 points
- Fourth place: 8 points
- Fifth place: 7 points
- Sixth place: 5 points
- Seventh place: 4 points
- Eighth place: 3 points
- Ninth place: 2 points
- Ten place: 1 point
What players have won the men’s prize before?
2024: rodrigo
2023: Lionel Messi
2022: Karim Benzema
2021: Lionel Messi
2019: Lionel Messi
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2025-08-08 11:57:57