Ousmane Dembele Emerges As Ballon d\'Or Frontrunner After PSG\'s UCL Win
Ousmane Dembele has positioned himself as the leading candidate for the 2025 Ballon d\'Or following Paris Saint-Germain\'s Champions League victory and dominant domestic campaign. The French forward\'s transformation into a center forward role coincided with PSG\'s emergence as the world\'s best team.
Dembele recorded 21 goals and six assists in Ligue 1 as PSG won the league by 19 points. He added eight goals and six assists in Champions League play, helping PSG secure a five-goal victory in the final. The 28-year-old\'s statistical output and narrative arc have established him as the clear favorite among Ballon d\'Or voters.
Despite Dembele\'s frontrunner status, other players present compelling cases for the award. Liverpool\'s Mohamed Salah led all players with 54 combined goals and assists across competitions. Barcelona\'s Raphinha emerged as the most productive player after adjusting for penalties and chance creation quality.
PSG teammate Achraf Hakimi also deserves consideration after posting superior attacking numbers compared to other defenders. The Moroccan wingback\'s unique skill set and PSG\'s treble success strengthen his candidacy for the prestigious award.
European Sports Media\'s monthly team selections throughout the season initially favored Liverpool players, with Salah earning 43 individual votes compared to Dembele\'s 23. However, Dembele\'s per-minute productivity surpassed all competitors despite playing significantly fewer minutes than his rivals.
The analysis suggests Dembele played 2,900 minutes across major competitions, roughly 1,100 fewer than both Salah and Raphinha. His efficiency metrics and clutch performances in crucial matches, including the victory over Liverpool at Anfield, have elevated his candidacy above statistical leaders.
Chelsea\'s 3-0 Club World Cup final victory over PSG represents the primary threat to Dembele\'s Ballon d\'Or chances, potentially opening the door for Cole Palmer or other Premier League candidates to gain voter support.