Football legend Thierry Henry has revealed who his clear winner is for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, just days before the ceremony takes place next week.
This year's ceremony takes place on Monday, with a large group of superstars competing for the prestigious individual award. The nominees include Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah, who have all excelled in recent seasons.
Dembele led Paris Saint-Germain to four major trophies last season, including the Champions League.
Yamal excelled with Barcelona and helped Spain win Euro 2024.
Mbappe and Salah put in heroic performances for Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively.
Following recent Champions League matches, including victories over Barcelona and Manchester City, Jamie Carragher and Henry discussed the Ballon d'Or on CBS Sports.
Moderator Kate Scott, who will host the ceremony, asked the two legends about their winner. Carragher named Dembele, Mbappe, Salah, Yamal, Raphinha and Achraf Hakimi as the main candidates, calling them the "top six players". However, he backed Dembele to win the award after his brilliant season with PSG.
Henry, on the other hand, had no doubts and only mentioned Ousmane Dembele:
"I don't even need to talk," Henry said, emphasizing that in his opinion Dembele is the clear winner.
Dembele dominated in his extraordinary season
Ousmane Dembele scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in all competitions last season. PSG sporting director Luis Campos also defended his Ballon d'Or bid and rejected the idea that Yamal could be the winner:
"We are talking about a special season. The record has been decisive in recent years, and what has Lamine Yamal won? The Spanish league," Campos said.
"PSG have nine candidates for the Ballon d'Or and we are very happy and proud. Other players also deserve to be there, like Barcola and Pacho. Ousmane Dembele scored 35 goals, gave 16 assists, was voted the best player in the Champions League and his league. He finished as the league's top scorer and won everything. Whether his name is Messi or Ronaldo, there is no discussion."
Dembele's outstanding performance has led many football experts and legends to be convinced that he is the clear winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, giving the Frenchman a secure place in the history of individual football awards. /GazetaExpress/
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