The 2025 Ballon d’Or conversation continues to heat up following the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, with widespread consensus placing FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele as the leading contenders. Now, Paul Pogba has added his voice to the debate, picking his winner between the Spanish phenom and the French star.
With his suspension reduced and a fresh contract signed with AS Monaco, Pogba’s return to competitive action is inching closer. During a recent conversation with streamer iShowSpeed in Monaco, the French midfielder was asked for his Ballon d’Or pick—and he didn’t hesitate to make his stance clear.
“That’s my opinion, but Ousmane will always be a bit ahead of Lamine Yamal. He was incredible this year because he won the Champions League and was so important—scoring goals, big games, and stuff like that, right?,” Pogba pointed to the significance of Dembele’s European triumph as a key factor.
He went on to elaborate, suggesting this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Dembele. “If he doesn’t win it now, he’ll never win it. So, I’ll definitely go for Dembouz. It can go both ways though, but that’s what I think,” Pogba added, also highlighting Yamal’s exponential growth at his age.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for September 22, with the list of nominees set to be unveiled on August 7. While both Yamal and Dembele are expected to be among the frontrunners, Pogba is backing his fellow World Cup-winning teammate from France’s 2018 squad.
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The case for Yamal and Dembele
Though many names have entered the Ballon d’Or conversation in recent weeks—including PSG’s Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, Barça’s Pedri, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski, and even Chelsea’s Cole Palmer—the spotlight remains firmly on Dembele and Yamal.
For Dembele, the numbers and accolades speak for themselves. The winger was instrumental in PSG becoming the first French club to complete a treble, and he delivered stellar individual performances throughout the campaign. In 53 appearances, he tallied 35 goals and 16 assists, thriving under Luis Enrique’s system.
Yamal, meanwhile, captivated fans with his flair, vision, and poise beyond his years. The teenage sensation delivered memorable moments, including key goals against Real Madrid and a standout performance in the UEFA Nations League semifinal that eliminated Dembele’s France. He helped Barca secure three domestic titles and finished the season with 18 goals and 25 assists across 55 appearances. While his goal tally trails Dembele’s, Yamal’s overall influence has made him a legitimate contender.
