Ousmane Dembele backs Kvaratskhelia as Ballon d’Or rivals Mbappe and Yamal campaign

Unlike Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele has adopted a more collective and understated approach to the Ballon d’Or debate.

The Paris Saint-Germain player has backed team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the 2026 award, offering his support to the Georgian forward despite being last year’s winner.

Mbappe, Yamal, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia are all included in the 30-player Ballon d’Or shortlist. The award ceremony is due to take place in London on 26 October.

Dembele has also looked back on his own success after sharing several photographs from last year’s Ballon d’Or triumph on his Instagram account.

The France international wrote: “22 September 2025 – forever. Some memories never grow old. One year later, the pride remains, and the memory lives on. History continues to be written. One year later, there is pride in seeing the name engraved forever in the history of football.”