Desire Doue had no doubts when asked if he's better than Lamine Yamal amid Ballon d'Or battle
Desire Doue had no doubts when he was asked if he's better than Lamine Yamal amid their battle for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
After a fantastic season for PSG, Doue is one of the favourites for this year's award.
The 20-year-old French forward scored twice in PSG's historic 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final, winning the player of the match award.
Playing on the right-side of an attacking trio alongside Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Doue helped inflict the biggest ever Champions League final defeat.
Advert
Another big contender for the Ballon d'Or is Spain and Barcelona's wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
The 18-year-old shone as Barcelona claimed both La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
But they did fall short in the Champions League, losing a dramatic semi-final tie to Inter Milan.
Doue has now shared his thoughts on the growing rivalry between two of football's brightest future stars.
A young fan said "Who is better, you or Lamine Yamal."
Doue replied: "Definitely me."
For football fans, the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate that dominated the 2010s, may soon replaced by a new rivalry between Doue and Yamal.
Who will win the 2025 Ballon d'Or?
It is unlikely that neither Doue or Yamal will take home the award in 2025, as Dembele is the strong favourite.
After PSG completed a treble, it would be unfair to overlook their key attacking player
Dembele ended the campaign with 35 goals and 16 assists, winning both Ligue 1 and the Champions League player of the season awards.
He also impressed in the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
But PSG ultimately fell short in the final losing 3-0 to a Cole Palmer-inspired Chelsea.
At 28 having struggled with injuries throughout his career, this may be Dembele's last chance to win the Ballon d'Or.
The ceremony will take place on 22 September in Paris, which is a month earlier than it was last year.
Will Doue and Yamal battle for future Ballon d'Ors?
Most likely, yes.
Both are exceptional young attacking talents who continue to rapidly develop.
Crucially they both come from strong footballing countries with a realistic chance of international success.
But players like Palmer, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe still have several years left at the top level and remain serious contenders for future Ballon d'Ors.
Topics: Football, Ballon d'Or, Lamine Yamal, PSG, Ousmane Dembele, Champions League, FC Barcelona
James Taylor