Mbappe Endorses Dembele for 2025 Ballon d'Or, Citing PSG's Treble Triumph

Kylian Mbappe has made his choice clear ahead of the Ballon d’Or 2025. The Real Madrid striker has backed his France teammate Ousmane Dembl to take home football’s biggest individual prize this year.

With the ceremony less than three weeks away in Paris, Mbapp has put his support firmly behind the Paris Saint-Germain forward, who enjoyed the best season of his career.

“Ousmane Dembele deserves it. For me, yes. I hope he wins the Ballon d’Or. I have supported him from the beginning. Then, we’ll see what happens. If it was up to me, I would bring him the trophy directly to his home,” Mbapp told Tlfoot.

Dembele delivered a stunning 2024-25 season, scoring 35 goals and registering 16 assists. He played a decisive role in PSG’s treble-winning campaign, guiding the club to their long-awaited first Champions League crown with goals in the semifinal and final.

The Frenchman is seen as the frontrunner, though Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Brazilian winger Raphinha are also in contention after inspiring their club to a domestic treble. Together, the trio’s numbers this season have set up one of the most competitive Ballon d’Or races in years.

Mbappe, despite scoring 44 goals in his first season at Real Madrid, admitted his own focus is still on team trophies. He added that while the Ballon d’Or is on every player’s mind, individual honours will only follow if he continues to succeed collectively with his club and country.

"Is the Ballon d'Or still somewhere in the back of my mind? Of course, it's on every player's mind. There are opportunities you have to seize, or not. But it all comes down to collective trophies, to having a great season...if I have a successful season and win trophies, I'll win it too," Mbappe added,

While Dembele has the edge in narrative and numbers, Lamine Yamal’s record-breaking rise as a teenager for both Barcelona and helping Spain win the Euro 2024, and his teammate Raphinha’s late bloom into Barcelona’s attacking leader cannot be ignored. Both are expected to push the PSG star all the way when the winner is announced.