Luis Figo names surprise pick for Ballon d'Or winner as major concerns raised over the 2025 award

Real Madrid and Portugal legend Luis Figo has named his pick for the Ballon d'Or award.

After the 24/25 campaign drew to a close with Paris Saint Germain winning the UEFA Champions League last Saturday, the chat for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award is starting to heat up.

The likes of Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Mohamed Salah are among the favourites to win this year's award.

Speaking ahead of the Champions League final, Figo was asked to pick out his winner for the Ballon d'Or.

Having snubbed the likes of Bukayo Saka, Desire Doue, Raphinha, Salah, Vitinha and Dembele, Figo put his Madrid legendary status aside to choose Barcelona star Yamal.

Figo was asked: "Do you think Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d'Or this year?"

He replied: "If he continues to work hard as he is doing and playing like this... in the future for sure."

Meanwhile, Yamal's current Barcelona teammate, Robert Lewandowski, raised questions about the 'rules' of the Ballon d'Or.

When asked if Yamal could take home the prize, Lewandowski said to Mundo Deportivo: "He has a chance, of course, but there are other things that are very important about the Ballon d'Or. It depends on the rules they have this year. Every year, you have different rules. It depends on who they want and what the rules are this season.

"For me it would be nice if a Barcelona player won the Ballon d'Or, but in the end you're not sure what the important rules are this season."

When asked whether the winner of France vs Spain this week could decide the Ballon d'Or, Yamal said: "People have the wrong concept of the Ballon d'Or. The Ballon d'Or is not for the one who wins a match, it's for the best player of the year.

"For me, if people want to vote for the one who wins the match, perfect. I think Spain will win. It's up to the people and, whatever happens, I will continue to enjoy football and have a good time."

The teenager continued: "I would vote for any Barça player before Dembelé, because I am from Barça. If you ask someone from PSG, they will tell you Dembelé, and if you ask someone from Real Madrid, they will tell you Kylian Mbappé.

"I don't think about winning the Ballon d'Or. I think about enjoying myself, playing well and if it has to come, it will come. For me the important thing is that people talk about what I do on the pitch, not off it."