Former Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho has made a passionate appeal for his compatriot Ousmane Dembele to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or, urging all French people to rally behind the Paris Saint-Germain attacker.
Speaking on RTL, Sakho emphasized national solidarity in supporting Dembele over Barcelona's Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal for football's most prestigious individual award.
"For me, all French people must support Dembele to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or," Sakho stated. "Lamine Yamal is a Spaniard. We are French, I'm French. And I want Dembele who has had an exceptional season, who had won everything, wins the Ballon d'Or."
Exceptional Season Credentials
The 28-year-old Dembele enjoyed a remarkable 2024-2025 campaign, netting 33 goals across all competitions for Luis Enrique's side. His contributions were instrumental in PSG securing a treble of trophies – Ligue 1, French Cup, and the coveted UEFA Champions League.
Sakho expressed frustration at what he perceives as hesitation from some French journalists to fully back Dembele's candidacy.
"I don't understand, in our country, how some journalists can still make a doubt on it," he continued. "I'm sorry, we've to be all together. And with what he proved, what he showed this year, for me, Dembele must have the Ballon d'Or. We must support him."
The Ballon d'Or race appears to be heating up with other candidates including Barcelona's Lamine Yamal also receiving endorsements from football legends like Luis Figo.
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