The qualification of Paris Saint-Germain to the Champions League final reportedly boosts the chances of a French player winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, at the expense of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 2-1 at the Parc des Princes and, combined with their 1-0 win in the first leg, secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan. This result could strengthen the case for a French star to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona’s elimination appears to hurt Lamine Yamal’s chances.
According to L’Equipe, Ousmane Dembele is the current frontrunner to claim the prestigious award given by France Football magazine. The PSG winger, thanks to both his individual performances and the team’s success, may now have an edge over other candidates who have had less outstanding seasons.
Last year’s winner, Rodri, is unlikely to repeat after Manchester City’s underwhelming campaign, which also puts Erling Haaland out of contention. Similarly, the disappointing season from Real Madrid weakens the cases for Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe.
This narrows the list of frontrunners. Lamine Yamal remains a prominent contender—he has become a key figure for Barcelona at just 17 years old. Another possible candidate is Lautaro Martinez, the captain and biggest star for Inter Milan, who will face PSG in the European final on May 31 in Munich.
Ousmane Dembele’s performance this season
While the Ballon d’Or recognizes performance over the course of the season (summer to summer), Dembele’s form in 2025 alone puts him in a strong position. He is currently the top scorer in the world this calendar year with 25 goals. Across the entire season, he has contributed to 45 goals—33 scored and 12 assisted.
On the team front, PSG have been dominant. They clinched the Ligue 1 title well ahead of Olympique Marseille, despite two weeks remaining in the season. They’ve also reached the final of the Coupe de France, where they will face Reims on May 24.
On the continental stage, the French side has met expectations, reaching the Champions League final against Inter Milan. This summer, they will also participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Who was the last French player to win the Ballon d’Or?
Since the Ballon d’Or was first awarded in 1956, five French players have claimed the trophy. The most recent was Karim Benzema, who won in 2022 following his stellar performances with Real Madrid that led to a Champions League title.
Before Benzema, the last French Ballon d’Or winner was Zinedine Zidane in 1998, following a standout year with Juventus and his leadership in France’s first-ever World Cup title. Previous French winners also include Jean-Pierre Papin (1991), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, and 1985), and Raymond Kopa (1958).
From: bolavip.com
