Dembele, Yamal or Mbappe? Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale names the player he believes is the 2025 Ballon dOr favourite ‘by some way’

Real Madrid legend Bale had his say on the 2025 Ballon d'Or debate and mentioned PSG superstar Ousmane Dembele as the favourite to win the award "by some way". Dembele is enjoying a terrific season but will have to battle for votes with Lamine Yamal and compatriot Kylian Mbappe.

Dembele is enjoying the best football of his career to date, scoring 35 goals and registering 16 assists in 53 games across all competitions. His efforts in attack, which has seen him operate in a false nine role thanks to a stroke of tactical genius from head coach Luis Enrique, helped PSG win their maiden Champions League, in addition to Ligue 1 and two more domestic trophies. Les Parisiens have also reached the final of the Club World Cup, where they are the overwhelming favourites to beat Chelsea. The Frenchman, as such, is seen as the frontrunner to lift this year's Ballon d'Or despite Yamal and Mbappe making strong cases for themselves over the past 11 months.

Speaking to ESPN, Bale shared his thoughts on the 2025 Ballon d'Or. When asked if Dembele is the favourite to win the award, the Welsh icon said: "Yes, I think so. I think you also have to look what the teams have won.

"I think everyone obviously talks about individuals, but I think if you are winning those trophies as well, you're winning the Champions league, obviously they've won their domestic treble, if they win again the Club World Cup, it's hard to see anyone else from the season he's had and he's transformed them into trophies as well as the season he's had. It does make him the front runner by some way in my opinion."

Dembele will have a chance to help PSG lift their fifth title of the season on Sunday when they lock horns against Chelsea at the MetLife Stadium in New York.