Former France defender, Gael Clichy, has named Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele as his top pick for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award, describing him as "hands down" the most deserving candidate.
Speaking on RMC Sport, Clichy highlighted Dembele's exceptional performance throughout the season, emphasizing both his individual statistics and overall contribution to the team.
"The Ballon d'Or rewards players who are decisive: you have to take into account individual statistics, which have been highlighted by Cristiano and Lionel Messi," Clichy explained. "This year, Ousmane Dembele has some pretty crazy numbers."
The former defender was particularly impressed by Dembele's impact during matches, noting, "And when he came on during the match, he was sharp, with or without possession, when he pressed. Failing to reach 90 goals in a year, for me today Dembele is the winner hands down."
Clichy revealed that he and Thierry Henry share the same opinion about the PSG forward: "With Thierry Henry, we say that Ousmane is the most complete, he can score and make others score, cause chaos around him, he contributes defensively with his pressing."
Despite PSG's disappointing 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, which prevented them from adding another trophy to their cabinet, Dembele's individual season remains remarkable. The forward has recorded an impressive 35 goals and 16 assists in 52 matches across all competitions.
This outstanding performance has put Dembele firmly in the conversation for football's most prestigious individual award, with several football legends also weighing in on potential winners in recent weeks.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony, which recognizes the best footballer of the year, will be closely watched by fans worldwide as Dembele competes against other top performers for the coveted golden trophy.
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