Ousmane Dembélé Leads Ballon d'Or Race in France with 44% Support

Ousmane Dembélé is emerging as the leading favorite for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, supported by strong endorsements from influential figures and public opinion. Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, praised Dembélé's exceptional season and suggested he deserves to win the award alongside teammate Kylian Mbappé. A recent poll conducted in France found that 44% of respondents favored Dembélé, significantly ahead of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Mbappé, who each received 21%. Despite this momentum, other contenders like Barcelona's Pedri and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah also remain in the conversation, with some experts highlighting Pedri as a top candidate. The award ceremony is scheduled for September 22 in Paris, where the winner will be officially announced. Until then, debate continues over which player will claim football's most prestigious individual honor.