SPORTSWORLD.AM
PSG sporting director Luis Campos has explained why he believes Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or, rather than Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.
"We consider Lamine Yamal a promising player. But we are talking about a very specific season. In previous years, his [Dembele's] results were decisive, and what victory did Lamine Yamal achieve in the Spanish championship?
Ousmane Dembele scored 35 goals and made 16 assists. He was named the best player in the Champions League, the best player in his league. He was the top scorer in his league. He won everything.
If Ousmane doesn't win the Ballon d'Or, it's because the people who voted didn't have the skills to vote for him. He has very good statistics, and Dembele has achieved a lot. In my opinion, Ousmane Dembele definitely deserves the Ballon d'Or.
"I'm talking about last season, not about Lamine Yamal's prospects for the coming years. Last season, the best statistical player in all competitions and the most visible player was Ousmane Dembele. [Achraf] Hakimi and Vitinha, who also won the Nations League, had a great season, but the truth is that the best player in the Champions League and Ligue 1 is Ousmane Dembele. The Ballon d'Or should be his," Campos was quoted as saying by RMC Sport.
In the past season, Dembele played in 53 matches in all competitions, scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists. In the 2024/25 season, Yamal played 55 matches in all competitions, scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists.