Ousmane Dembélé reveals his all-time Ballon d’Or choice ahead of 2025 ceremony

With the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony fast approaching, Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has shared his personal pick for the greatest Ballon d’Or winner of all time – and his choice may not surprise many football fans.

The 2025 edition of football’s most prestigious individual honour will be awarded on 22 September.

While early favourites have begun to emerge, speculation remains high over whether Dembélé, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, or Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi will claim the trophy this year.

The official shortlist of 30 nominees, unveiled on 7 August, featured no major surprises.

In the meantime, Dembélé took part in a light-hearted segment with France Football, recorded shortly after PSG’s emphatic 5-0 Champions League final win over Inter Milan on 31 May.

The clip, released on Thursday by L’Équipe, saw the French international take part in a knockout-style game to determine his favourite Ballon d’Or winner in history.

The first choice presented to him was between 2007 winner Kaka and 2018 champion Luka Modric, with Dembélé opting for the Brazilian playmaker.

The selections then moved through a series of iconic players until he reached the ultimate head-to-head: Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi. Between the five-time Portuguese winner and the eight-time Argentine recipient, Dembélé gave his vote to Messi.

While Dembélé’s opinion on the greatest past winner is now clear, his own Ballon d’Or fate is yet to be decided.

The 27-year-old will discover in just over a month whether he has done enough to secure the award.

His 2024–25 campaign has been marked by significant achievements, including PSG’s Champions League triumph and, more recently, victory in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham.

That match ended 2-2 in regular time before PSG prevailed 4-3 on penalties, adding another trophy to Dembélé’s collection.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo… ????
Pour Ousmane Dembélé, qui est le plus grand Ballon d’Or de l’histoire ? ????#ballondor pic.twitter.com/lv4VfJzHgF

— L’Équipe (@lequipe) August 14, 2025

Despite his strong season, the race remains tight, with voters set to weigh performances across domestic leagues, European competition, and international fixtures.

Dembélé’s dazzling form, decisive goals, and creative impact for PSG will certainly strengthen his case, but history shows the Ballon d’Or often comes down to fine margins.

For now, the winger – affectionately known as Dembouz – can only wait.

Whether or not his name is read out at the Théâtre du Châtelet next month, his influence on the pitch this season has already reinforced his status as one of the game’s elite talents.