Former Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos has thrown his weight behind Kylian Mbappé to win the prestigious 2025 Ballon d'Or award, despite the French forward's relatively modest trophy haul this season.
Ramos, who shared the dressing room with Mbappé for two years at PSG between 2021 and 2023, expressed his support during a press conference on Monday, emphasizing that individual brilliance should be the primary criterion for the award.
"I [will] always give it to Mbappé," Ramos stated firmly. "It's a decisive trophy, but you never know what the criteria are for the Ballon d'Or."
Record-Breaking Season Despite Limited Silverware
In his debut season with Real Madrid, Mbappé has managed to secure only the Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup. However, his individual statistics have been nothing short of remarkable, with the 26-year-old netting an impressive 43 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, earning him the European Golden Shoe.
Ramos, now plying his trade with Mexican side Monterrey, acknowledged the complexity of the Ballon d'Or selection process but maintained that Mbappé's goal-scoring prowess should not be overlooked.
"He scores goals, won the Golden Boot, even though Madrid hasn't won other titles that other teams have won," the Spanish defender explained. "These are individual awards, not collective ones, but there are some very interesting players who have won leagues and cups."
The comments from Ramos come at a time when debate is intensifying about who deserves football's most coveted individual honor, with several French stakeholders reportedly concerned about Ousmane Dembele potentially winning the award before Mbappé.
According to reports, the Ballon d'Or organizers are expected to announce the nominees soon, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested race for the golden trophy.
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