Dembele vs Yamal: Ballon d’Or Race Intensifies During World Cup Qualifying Campaign
- The 2024 Ballon d'Or was surrounded by serious controversies as Real Madrid boycotted the gala ahead of Rodri's triumph
- Cristiano Ronaldo later said Vinicius Jr. should have clinched the award ahead of the Spanish midfielder
- This year's Ballon d'Or contest is a straight battle between Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and PSG's Ousmane Dembele
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Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal are now front-runners for the Golden Ball after spectacular campaigns in 2024/25 as the World Cup 2026 qualifiers heat up across continents.
Manchester City's Rodri edged past Vinícius Júnior to claim the crown in one of the closest contests in history.
Ronaldo then stoked the fire by insisting Vinícius deserved it, sparking fury at Real Madrid, who boycotted the Paris ceremony altogether.
Source: Getty Images
With that controversy still fresh in memory, this year’s Ballon d’Or race is expected to command global attention once again, as the world’s best footballers battle for the game’s most prestigious individual honour.
According to Flashscore, France defeated Ukraine 2-0 on September 5, as Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembele was introduced at half-time but had to be subbed off in the 81st minute after pulling up with a serious right hamstring injury.
As for Lamine Yamal, he is expected to feature for Spain in their World Cup qualifier game against Turkey on Sunday, September 7, despite a back issue he suffered in La Roja's 3-0 win against Bulgaria last Thursday.
According to Sports Mole, Spain is likely to start with Unai Simón in goal, a back four of Pedro Porro, Robin Le Normand, Dean Huijsen, and Marc Cucurella. In midfield, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, and Pedri will orchestrate the play.
Up front, the attack is expected to feature Ballon d'Or hopefuls Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Nicholas Williams, better known as Nico Williams.
Source: Getty Images
When is the 2025 Ballon d'Or gala?
Speaking of 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.
Who will win Ballon d'Or 2025?
Per GiveMeSport, Dembele is the hottest favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or as he leads the power rankings as of September 7, 2025.
See the full Ballon d'Or 2025 power rankings below.
1. Ousmane Dembele – Paris Saint-Germain
2. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
3. Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain
4. Raphinha – Barcelona
5. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
6. Desire Doue – Paris Saint-Germain
7. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Paris Saint-Germain
8. Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
9. Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain
10. Achraf Hakimi – Paris Saint-Germain
11. Pedri – Barcelona
12. Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan
13. Gianluigi Donnarumma – Paris Saint-Germain
14. Cole Palmer – Chelsea
15. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
16. Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
17. Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
18. Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool
19. Scott McTominay – Napoli
20. Fabian Ruiz – Paris Saint-Germain
21. Joao Neves – Paris Saint-Germain
22. Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen/Liverpool
23. Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
24. Erling Haaland – Manchester City
25. Declan Rice – Arsenal
26. Alexis Mac Allister – Liverpool
27. Viktor Gyokeres – Sporting CP/Arsenal
28. Michael Olise – Bayern Munich
29. Serhou Guirassy – Borussia Dortmund
30. Denzel Dumfries – Inter Milan
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.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
