Claude Makelele backs Ousmane Dembele over Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :July 8, 2025 at 6:37 PM

Modified at :July 8, 2025 at 6:37 PM

Claude Makelele backs Ousmane Dembele over Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or

Dembele is seen as the top contender to lift the Ballon d’Or.

Former Real Madrid player Claude Makelele has picked his Ballon d’Or favourite, disregarding Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as the frontrunner.

Makelele has picked his compatriot Ousmane Dembele and snubbed Yamal. Dembele has enjoyed a productive season with Paris Saint-Germain. He led them to a treble and netted 33 goals in 49 games.

Moreover, he can further raise his stocks for the award if he takes the French club to the final of the Club World Cup 2025. They are currently in the semi-final and will face Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Yamal has enjoyed a splendid season with Barcelona. He helped them win LaLiga and Copa del Rey and almost single-handedly inspired the club to reach the final of the Champions League. But they came short against Inter Milan in the semi-final second leg.

However, overall, the forward did have one of his best seasons with the senior team. His performance has now divided the fans and pundits alike on who merits the award the most between him and Dembele.

Ousmane Dembele PSG Champions League — Ousmane Dembele, treble winner with Paris Saint-Germain, has a very high chance of bagging the Ballon d’Or award (Photo via Getty Images)

However, Makelele has provided his opinion on this year’s possible Ballon d’Or winner. Speaking to AS, he said:

“To Dembele. Lamine still needs to prove himself over a longer period of time. Ousmane started earlier. If we give it to the young one, Lamine… (laughs). He needs to show more. Let him be, he’s a kid, he’s a talent. Don’t beat him up.”

While some may disagree, Makelele’s statement makes sense because Dembele’s season-long accomplishments, whether in terms of goals scored or titles won, are far superior to Yamal’s. Now, if he manages to win the Club World Cup, he can elevate his chances of earning the prize even more.

It will be an interesting competition between the France international and Yamal as both are set to battle for the most famous award in football.

FAQs

How many trophies did Dembele win with PSG last season?

Dembele won the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France.

How many trophies did Yamal win with Barcelona last season?

LaLiga, Super Cup and Copa del Rey.

Has Ousmane Dembele ever won the Ballon d’Or?

No. Not yet.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.