Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Spain, France, Ballon d'Or, Football, Champions League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Spain, France, Ballon d'Or, Football, Champions League
The two current team-mates of Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele have made it clear who they believe should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
The two players are currently the leading contenders with the bookmakers to scoop the 2025 award.
Both would win the trophy for the first time in their careers, with Yamal the reigning winner of the Kopa Trophy for best young player.
Advert
The 17-year-old has taken the footballing world by storm in the last 12 months, helping Spain to win Euro 2024 before playing a key role in Barcelona's path to the semi-final of the Champions League.
He also won his first La Liga title last month, and collected a Nations League runners-up medal on Sunday night after Spain lost to Portugal on penalties.
Dembele, meanwhile, became the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or immediately after helping Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League title.
The 28-year-old France winger scored eight goals and provided six assists in the competition, being named Player of the Tournament as a result.
He also smashed in 21 goals in Ligue 1, with PSG in contention to win an ultra-rare quintuple of trophies this season with only the Club World Cup left to play.
Advert
The two players have two team-mates in common, with Jules Kounde representing Barcelona and France, and Fabian Ruiz representing PSG and Spain.
They have both given their thoughts on who should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
Speaking in March, Kounde said: "That's a difficult question. They are all [major candidates] having very good seasons.
"It's hard to choose a favourite. They are all impressive, but different players.
Advert
"If a Barcelona player were to win, it would mean we have gone far in the major competitions."
Ruiz, meanwhile, did not specifically mention Dembele's name when asked last week, but made it clear that he wanted one of his team-mates to lift the award.
"As long as all that's being talked about, that's a good sign," he began (via Mundo Deportivo). "We're putting up great numbers, winning titles.
"The Ballon d'Or is a separate title given to the best player of the year, and right now I'm not even thinking about that.
Advert
"I'm just thinking about enjoying myself and helping the national team now, and my team when necessary.
"It's a good sign if it's being talked about ... I hope whoever wins the Ballon d'Or is a team-mate."