The president of the France Football Federation (FFF), Philippe Diallo, has publicly endorsed Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé as the player who "deserves" to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award this year.
Dembélé, 28, has established himself as one of the frontrunners for football's most coveted individual prize after an outstanding 2024-2025 campaign that saw him score 25 goals since the beginning of 2025.
Exceptional Season with PSG
"He is perhaps the favourite," Diallo stated in an interview with Le Figaro. "Ousmane Dembélé has had an exceptional season."
The French winger played a pivotal role in PSG's historic clean sweep of trophies this season. The Parisian club claimed the Ligue 1 title, UEFA Champions League, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, with Dembélé's contributions proving crucial throughout their campaign.
Diallo expressed pride in having two French players in contention for football's top individual honor. "I am delighted that we (France) have two players (Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé) who should at least be on the podium, and that Dembélé deserves to win this trophy," he added.
Growing List of Contenders
The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or appears increasingly competitive, with several football personalities already weighing in on potential winners. Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique recently ranked three Barcelona players among his top six candidates, while Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has named two players he believes should win ahead of Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal.
German legend Lothar Matthäus has also shared his opinion on which player deserves the award, adding to the growing debate as the football world awaits the official nominee announcement from the Ballon d'Or organizers.
Meanwhile, in related news, Lionel Messi could potentially break records held by Pelé and Cristiano Ronaldo in the upcoming Club World Cup.
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