The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final defied everyone’s expectations as Paris Saint-Germain destroyed Inter Milan 5-0. Besides deciding the winner of Europe’s biggest competition, the match was also expected to play a big role in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
The Champions League is, after all, one of the world’s most prestigious football tournaments – even those who don’t follow the sport have heard of it. Its influence stretches beyond the pitch. The competition often appears in films, video games, and even in other forms of entertainment like online casino slots. At top PayPal, Skrill, or Boku casinos, alongside fast and convenient payment options, you’re likely to find at least one game featuring this tournament, for example, Football: Champions Cup from NetEnt. And, of course, the Champions League final has a great impact on the football world, including major football awards like the Ballon d’Or.
This year’s competition for the prestigious individual prize was balanced like never before. However, things shifted slightly after the UEFA Champions League final and now there is a standout favourite to claim the award. That favourite is, of course, Ousmane Dembele, although there are arguments in favour and against his win.
2024/25 Ballon d’Or Race
Unlike in many seasons before, with the notorious exception of 2024, the 2025 Ballon d’Or race was extremely balanced. As the season approached its end, there were three main candidates for the prize: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal from Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele from PSG.
The fate of the award, in the eyes of many, was going to be decided by the UEFA Champions League trophy. Unfortunately for the fans of Barcelona, the Catalans were defeated by Inter Milan in the semi-finals. The Parisians, though, not only made it to the final, but also beat Inter Milan in a convincing fashion, scoring five unanswered goals.
This made Ousmane Dembele the top candidate for the Ballon d’Or both for the fans and for bookmakers, with some offering odds as low as 1.40 on the Frenchman winning the award.
Arguments in Favour of Ousmane Dembele
First, the 28-year-old winger won every competition he participated in with PSG in 2024/25: UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions.
Second, he had great individual numbers this season, with 33 goals and 13 assists in 49 appearances for the Parisians across all competitions.
Third, the France international demonstrated that he is a well-rounded footballer as he performed well both as a central forward and as a right winger. And fourth, Dembele was especially great in the second half of the season when it mattered most. Most of his goals and assists came in the spring of 2025 when PSG reached the advanced stages of the UEFA Champions League and were playing the deciding games in Ligue 1.
Arguments Against Ousmane Dembele
At the same time, there are arguments that can be made against the 28-year-old winger. First, Ousmane Dembele was not as good in the first half of the season. At times, he was even left on the bench by coach Luis Enrique. For a Ballon d’Or contender, though, it is important to show consistency throughout the season.
Second, Dembele’s individual record is not the best out there. Raphinha, who is also in the running, scored 34 goals and provided 22 assists in 57 matches for Barcelona. And unlike Ousmane, he was consistent throughout the season.
And third, Ligue 1 is not the most competitive top division in Europe, PSG consistently winning it in recent years. Thus, some may argue that winning Ligue 1 is not as impressive as winning La Liga, in the case of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, or winning the Premier League in the case of Mohamed Salah.
Other Competitions that May Decide the Ballon d’Or
Just because the UEFA Champions League final is behind us, it does not mean that the 2025/26 campaign is over. There are at least two titles to be disputed, some of which may impact the Ballon d’Or race as well.
At the international level, the UEFA Nations League finals have already taken place. Spain defeated France in the semi-finals, with Lamine Yamal scoring one of the goals in that match-up. However, Spain had to settle for second place after losing to Portugal in the final, while France secured third place. That result, however, didn’t significantly damage Dembele’s chances.
Paris Saint-Germain, unlike Barcelona or Liverpool, are taking part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The French side made a solid start, winning two of their first three matches. However, Dembélé did not play in any of them as he is still recovering from injury.
In conclusion, while Ousmane Dembele seems like the top contender for the Ballon d’Or at the moment, the race for the prize may still be open to twists and turns.
