Marcelo snubs Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele as he names shock 80/1 outsider to win 2025 Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid legend Marcelo has named a surprise choice who is 80/1 to win the next Ballon d'Or and snubbed more likely contenders such as Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele.

The Brazilian left-back hung up his boots last year after ending his playing career with Fluminense back in his native country.

The 37-year-old left-back is best known for his time with Real Madrid, whom he played for between 2007 and 2022, establishing himself as perhaps the best defender in the world in this time.

With Real Madrid, Marcelo won six La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies alongside four FIFA Club World Cup triumphs, two Copa del Rey titles, three UEFA Super Cups and five Supercopa de Espana victories

Since retiring, the Brazilian has remianed involved in football and was recently asked to name his pick for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, and his choice came out of nowhere.

Two of the favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or is Barcelona star Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain's Dembele.

Both players have had successful times of late with their clubs, with Yamal winning three trophies with Barcelona including the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana.

Yamal himself scored 18 goals in 55 matches for Barca as his rapid rise continues and he will not even turn 18 until July 13.

Dembele had a successful season with PSG with 33 goals netted in 50 appearances and helped the French side win the Ligue 1 title again, but also contributed to the club's maiden Champions League win with a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan.

Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Image: Getty)

But when asked who he feels should win the 2025 Ballon d'Or Marcelo did not choose Yamal or Dembele who are the two favourites for the award, but instead selected old Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the victor - despite the Portuguese attacker being nowhere near being in the running with odds of 80/1.

As per Madrid Zone via Daily Post after a Real Madrid legends vs Borussia Dortmund legends game, Marcelo said: "Who should win the Ballon d’Or? Cristiano Ronaldo."

In the event Ronaldo did win, it would be his sixth Ballon d'Or title following the five he won while with Manchester United and Real.

Marcelo was team-mates with Ronaldo following the attacker's arrival from United in 2009 for a then world record transfer fee of £80m, until 2018 when Ronaldo left to join Italian side Juventus.

Ronaldo scored 25 goals for Al Nassr last season to be the Saudi Pro League's top scorer again, and the 40-year-old recently agreed a new two-year contract with the club.

The attacker also recently achieved further success with his country by helping Portugal win the UEFA Nations League crown following a penalty shootout victory over Spain after a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

The man himself recently said that he believes the Ballon d'Or winner should be one that has won the Champions League, which after last season would put Dembele top of the list.

Ronaldo said: "In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League."