Ousmane Dembélé, who claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2025, finds himself on the nominee list again this year, yet the bookmakers have pushed the Paris Saint-Germain contingent towards the margins. Their forecasts install Harry Kane as the clear favourite, with Lamine Yamal second and Kylian Mbappé completing the podium. Inside the Paris dressing room, though, the recognition on offer paints an entirely different picture.
Dembélé has singled out his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for public backing. "For me he is the best player in the world, and that is precisely why he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or," the France forward insisted. "He has had a truly exceptional season." The Georgia international returned the compliment by praising Dembélé's leadership qualities, but the reigning winner had already made his own choice clear, naming Kvaratskhelia as the man he sees as the leading contender.
