Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League triumph has positioned three of their standout players as frontrunners for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, potentially edging out Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Football icon Gary Lineker believes PSG’s first-ever Champions League title gives their top performers a crucial advantage in the race for football’s most prestigious individual award. The French champions sealed a dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the final, held in Munich, with goals from Desire Doue (2), Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu.
While it was a collective masterclass, Lineker highlighted Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Achraf Hakimi as top candidates for the Ballon d’Or.
“Dembele is probably the favourite. He was instrumental in several goals in the final—registering an assist and playing a major role in the build-up. Donnarumma might have a chance too, though goalkeepers rarely win it. Hakimi also had a brilliant campaign and scored in the final,” Lineker said, according to Daily Mirror.
Dembele Leads PSG’s Ballon d’Or Push
At the core of PSG’s treble-winning season was Ousmane Dembele, who produced a career-best year. The French winger scored 33 goals and provided 15 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, according to Sportskeeda. Though he didn’t find the net in the Champions League final, his creativity, vision, and consistency were vital to PSG’s attacking dominance.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, another standout performer, played a pivotal role throughout the campaign with numerous clean sheets and key saves that kept PSG’s defensive line rock solid.
Achraf Hakimi, who scored in the final, capped off an outstanding season as one of the world’s best attacking fullbacks and could be a surprise contender for the award.
Barcelona Duo Still in the Running
Despite PSG’s dominance, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Raphinha remain strong contenders for the Ballon d’Or.
The Catalan club won La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and made it to the Champions League semifinals. Raphinha finished as the Champions League top scorer, while 17-year-old Yamal earned the Young Player of the Tournament award, showcasing brilliance well beyond his years.
However, missing out on the Champions League title might hurt their chances when votes are cast.
Enrique Tips Dembele for Ballon d’Or
PSG manager Luis Enrique has publicly backed Dembele to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, praising his impact throughout the treble-winning season.
Dembele joins a competitive field that includes stars like Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal, all vying to succeed Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
With PSG making history in Europe and delivering a treble, the momentum is clearly with their stars—making Dembele, Donnarumma, and Hakimi serious favourites for this year’s award.
