Ousmane Dembélé has revealed his top three candidates for the Ballon d’Or, leaving Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal out of his primary shortlist while suggesting a PSG player could hold the trophy.
Dembélé’s Top Three Contenders Without Yamal
As the reigning winner of the Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembélé shared his predictions for this year’s award during a media appearance, noting that the race remains unpredictable. Dembélé specifically highlighted Kane’s strong form, stating that the English striker had put together a very good season.
Despite leaving Lamine Yamal out of his top three, Dembélé acknowledged the teenager’s exceptional rise, alongside Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise and PSG teammate Fabián Ruiz.
Lamine Yamal Responds to the Ballon d’Or Snub
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal offered a lighthearted reaction to being left off Dembélé’s shortlist. Quoted by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X and reported by punchng.com, Yamal responded with a smile when asked about the omission, jokingly pointing to club loyalties. “He’s Kylian Mbappé’s friend, right?” Yamal said with a smile, referencing Dembélé’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate.
At the same time, Yamal made it clear that he harbors no ill will toward the French international, expressing full understanding of Dembélé’s selections while reflecting on his own stellar performances on the pitch. According to punchng.com, Yamal stated, “My relationship with Ousmane is very good, and I understand that he wants to choose other players. But I’m very happy with what I delivered this year, and I’m confident that everyone watched it, even if he didn’t.” Yamal has continued his strong domestic form into the new campaign, having already netted four goals in LaLiga after four matches following braces against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia.
The Race Ahead and Upcoming Announcements
The global football community continues to debate the contenders as the official list of 30 nominees approaches its scheduled announcement on September 8. Dembélé enters this cycle looking back at his victory in the previous edition, where he finished ahead of both Lamine Yamal and Vitinha. With domestic leagues underway and European competitions heating up, players and managers alike await official updates from award organizers regarding the final voting window.
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