Havana, September 22 (RHC) – The wait is over. The world of football will celebrate its new idol today with the presentation of the Ballon d’Or, a coveted award for which Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) are the favorites.
For the 69th edition of the ceremony, held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, most experts in the men’s category are betting on the Parisian striker, who led a team to a near-perfect 2024-2025 season, which only missed out on the Club World Cup title and included his first Champions League title.
Dembélé (28 years old) scored 37 goals and provided 16 assists in 60 appearances for PSG and the French national team, better numbers than the eighteen-year-old Lamal’s 21 and 25 in 62 with Barça and Spain.
In the Iberian’s favor are his unique talent and his leadership, despite his age, in rebuilding one of the world’s great clubs, which he led to La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Other names on the lips of predictors to succeed Rodri, winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, are PSG midfielder Vitinha and Barcelona striker Raphinha, but they are far less likely to win.
Among the women, Barcelona and Spain player Alexa Putellas, who has already won two awards from France Football magazine in 2021 and 2022, is once again on the list of favorites. She is also followed by players such as her compatriot Mariona Caldentey and Englishwoman Alessa Russo, both from Arsenal.
The 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or will also recognize, among others, the best goalkeeper of the previous season (Yashin Trophy) and the most outstanding young player (Kopa Trophy).
