Ousmane Dembélé Expresses Ambitions for Ballon d’Or Amid Praise for Lamine Yamal

Paris, France — Ousmane Dembélé praised his former Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal while revealing his ambitions for this year’s Ballon d’Or. The Paris Saint-Germain forward has had an impressive season, scoring 33 goals across all competitions, which is the most in his career.

Dembélé’s standout performance comes as PSG dominates both France and Europe, leading some to believe he is a strong contender for the prestigious award given to the best soccer player in the world. He expressed hope that he could be nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a goal he has never achieved before.

“I hope to be among the 30 nominees already,” Dembélé said with a smile. “I’ve had some difficult years with injuries and poor performances too. This season, I think I’ve performed well, so we’ll see what happens. It would be exceptional to have my name on the list.”

Dembélé also spoke about Yamal, who has had a remarkable season with 18 goals and 21 assists, showcasing his talent and skill at just 17 years old. “Everyone was already talking about Lamine Yamal from a young age at Barcelona. When he arrived at the professional level, we understood he was exceptional,” Dembélé noted.

As Dembélé navigated questions regarding the Ballon d’Or, he reflected on the significance of the award. “Winning a Ballon d’Or when you’re a soccer player is obviously the Holy Grail individually. It’s something you dream about when you’re little,” he added.

The competition for the Ballon d’Or includes iconic players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé, enhancing the pressure on rising stars like Dembélé and Yamal.