Another Frenchman could lift the Ballon d'Or by following the Ousmane Dembele blueprint. Indeed, according to Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus, Michael Olise has the potential to become the first Ballon d'Or winner from Die Roten after 45 years. The 23-year-old has been exceptional since arriving from Crystal Palace in 2024 and is reportedly set to be offered a new deal.
Following the release of EA Sports FC 26, GOAL's Front Three have stepped in to amend some player ratings, with Casemiro, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane's numbers all adjusted.
Former Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has offered words of advice to 2025 champion Ousmane Dembele, warning that the period after such recognition would be the most challenging. Papin congratulated the Paris Saint-Germain forward and insists he fully deserved the award, though he urged him to stay true to himself.
Hansi Flick admitted Ousmane Dembele âdeservedâ the Ballon dâOr after the Paris Saint-Germain forwardâs spectacular season, while insisting Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has taken finishing second in his stride. Flick revealed Yamal is "motivated" to win the prize in the near future and ready to respond with performances as Barca prepare for their upcoming fixtures.
Vitinha expressed his happiness at achieving a third-placed finish in the Ballon d'Or rankings and extended his congratulations to Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Ousmane Dembele, who pipped Barcelona rival Lamine Yamal to lift the prestigious award. Vitinha was one of the best midfielders in the world last season and achieved tremendous success with both club and country.
Former France captain Olivier Giroud has explained the key behind Ousmane Dembeleâs Ballon dâOr success after admitting he never imagined his former France teammate would one day win the award. The Paris Saint-Germain forward capped off a remarkable season with 35 goals and a Champions League win, becoming the 2025 Ballon dâOr winner on Monday night.
La Liga president Javier Tebas believes that Lamine Yamal only missed out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or because of his age. The Barcelona superstar was pipped to the post by Paris Saint-Germain ace Ousmane Dembele, but Tebas believes it is only a matter of time before the teenager picks up the prize as the world's best footballer.
Ousmane Dembeleâs Ballon dâOr triumph has attracted many deliberations, with Serge Gnabry admitting he feels âa little bit vindicatedâ after previously declaring the Paris Saint-Germain star was âmuch betterâ than Kylian Mbappe. The Bayern Munich winger praised Dembeleâs rare two-footed ability, while also acknowledging the Real Madrid forward's world-class pedigree.
Sunderland congratulated Ousmane Dembele on his Ballon d'Or success due to a unique connection with the Paris Saint-Germain superstar. The winger was crowned the world's best footballer at a glitzy awards ceremony on Monday night and the Black Cats took to Instagram to pay tribute to a player who has never kicked a ball for them.
Rennes went all out to honour Ousmane Dembele after his Ballon d'Or triumph, taking out a full-page advert in L'Equipe and running tributes across social media. The Paris Saint-Germain forward fired his side to a historic treble last season and became the clubâs first Ballon dâOr winner, while his boyhood team proudly reminded the world of their role in shaping his journey.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has issued a mature statement after losing out to Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele in the Ballon d'Or race on Monday. The teenage attacker had a stellar 2024-25 campaign with Barca, but Dembele was ultimately crowned the best player on the planet after leading PSG to the treble.
Former Real Madrid footballer Alvaro Benito provided his thoughts on the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, which saw Ousmane Dembele being crowned as the best player in the world, ahead of rival Lamine Yamal. While Benito admitted that the PSG forward deserved the award, he was unhappy about where Pedri finished in the rankings and was brutally critical of the journalists who vote.
Ousmane Dembele has been paid a special tribute by adidas in the wake of his Ballon dâOr triumph, with a nod being offered to the Paris Saint-Germain starâs Steph Curry-inspired goal celebration. The France international, who is clearly a big fan of NBA icons, has been named the best player on the planet in 2025 - allowing a place in the history books to be secured.
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele hailed "wonderful" Barcelona rival Lamine Yamal after beating him to the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Dembele scooped the award ahead of Yamal after leading PSG to three trophies in 2024-25, including their maiden Champions League title.