Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Nuno Mendes has thrown his weight behind teammate Ousmane Dembele to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or ahead of Lamine Yamal. The Portuguese defender was named as Man of the Match as he helped his country defeat Spain on penalties in the UEFA Nations League final.
This year’s Ballon d’Or race appears to be between Barcelona and Spain sensation Yamal and PSG star Dembele. Both players faced off in the semi-final of the Nations League last week, with the former inspiring his side to a 5-4 win.
Speaking after helping his country win, PSG and Portugal left-back Nuno Mendes pointed out reasons why Dembele will win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Yamal. He revealed that the Frenchman is his pick for the award, and that he will work, together with his teammates, to ensure Dembele wins it.
Dembele enjoyed a sensational season in the colours of PSG, scoring 33 goals and providing 13 assists for Les Parisiens. He helped them win the treble for the first time in their history and won the Golden Boot in the French top-flight.
Lamine Yamal had a quiet Nations League final by his standards, with Mendes playing a major role in ensuring this. The 17-year-old helped Barcelona win the league and cup double, as well as the Supercopa de Espana.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has revealed his thoughts on his chances in this year’s Ballon d’Or race. The France captain brought up his 50th international goal for Les Bleus and provided an assist in their 2-0 win over Germany in the Nations League third-place playoff.
Mbappe spoke with the press (via TNT Sports) after the game on Sunday, pointing out that he has no say in the award of this year’s Ballon d’Or. He revealed that there are other factors and he would not mind whatever outcome emerges from the award.
Mbappe enjoyed a fine debut season in Spain with Real Madrid, scoring 31 goals in LaLiga to claim the Pichichi. He also won the European Golden Shoe as the best goalscorer in Europe, capping off a fine individual campaign.
Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.
Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.
Quick Links
