AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone has identified two French stars as the leading candidates to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or award – Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele.

The 24-year-old Roma player, who shares international duties with both Mbappe and Dembele in the French national team, expressed his support for his compatriots in the race for football's most prestigious individual honor.

"Ballon d'Or? There are two great Frenchmen who can win it: one at PSG [Dembele], one at Real Madrid [Mbappe]," Kone was quoted as saying by Madrid Zone. "I am voting for both," he added.

Strong Cases for Both Contenders

Dembele has emerged as one of the favorites for the award following PSG's historic UEFA Champions League triumph. The French winger played a crucial role in PSG's commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final, helping the Parisian club secure their first-ever Champions League trophy.

Meanwhile, Mbappe has strengthened his claim for the award after winning the European Golden Shoe, recognizing him as the top scorer across all European leagues this season. The Real Madrid forward has continued to demonstrate his exceptional goal-scoring abilities throughout the campaign.

Both players have had remarkable seasons at club level, with their performances putting them in strong contention for football's most coveted individual prize.

The winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or will be announced in September, with football fans eagerly anticipating whether one of Kone's French teammates will claim the prestigious award.