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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Nuno Mendes has thrown his weight behind teammate Ousmane Dembele to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or ahead of Lamine Yamal. The Portuguese defender was named as Man of the Match as he helped his country defeat Spain on penalties in the UEFA Nations League final.
This year's Ballon d'Or race appears to be between Barcelona and Spain sensation Yamal and PSG star Dembele. Both players faced off in the semi-final of the Nations League last week, with the former inspiring his side to a 5-4 win.
Speaking after helping his country win, PSG and Portugal left-back Nuno Mendes pointed out reasons why Dembele will win the Ballon d'Or ahead of Yamal. He revealed that the Frenchman is his pick for the award, and that he will work, together with his teammates, to ensure Dembele wins it.
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"The Ballon d'Or? I play with Ousmane [Dembele] and he had a wonderful season, Lamine also had a wonderful season. But Ousmane will be in the Club World Cup and Lamine won't, so I'm very happy for Ousmane. He had a lot of injuries at Barca before arriving at PSG, but he is an amazing player. I like him very much as a player and a man. I wish him the best for the Ballon d'Or and I and his teammates will help him get there."
Dembele enjoyed a sensational season in the colours of PSG, scoring 33 goals and providing 13 assists for Les Parisiens. He helped them win the treble for the first time in their history and won the Golden Boot in the French top-flight.
Lamine Yamal had a quiet Nations League final by his standards, with Mendes playing a major role in ensuring this. The 17-year-old helped Barcelona win the league and cup double, as well as the Supercopa de Espana.
Real Madrid star shares thoughts on Ballon d'Or chances
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has revealed his thoughts on his chances in this year's Ballon d'Or race. The France captain brought up his 50th international goal for Les Bleus and provided an assist in their 2-0 win over Germany in the Nations League third-place playoff.
Mbappe spoke with the press (via TNT Sports) after the game on Sunday, pointing out that he has no say in the award of this year's Ballon d'Or. He revealed that there are other factors and he would not mind whatever outcome emerges from the award.
"I’m not the one who gives out the Ballon d’Or. I have my own opinions, which might be different from others. There are votes - around 100 journalists, I think. The only award I can directly influence is the Golden Shoe, because that depends on my feet and my performance on the pitch. The Ballon d’Or doesn’t depend on me - there are other factors. If I win it, great. If not, I’ll be fine."
Mbappe enjoyed a fine debut season in Spain with Real Madrid, scoring 31 goals in LaLiga to claim the Pichichi. He also won the European Golden Shoe as the best goalscorer in Europe, capping off a fine individual campaign.
