‘I’m his biggest fan’ – Kylian Mbappé lauds Ousmane Dembélé’s form amid talk of Ballon d’Or challenge | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé (27) is a player metamorphosed this season and specifically in 2025. Often derided for his finishing ability – or lack thereof- the Paris Saint-Germain has an incredible 22 goals in just 17 games in the calendar year. It is a run of form that, even at this early point of the year, is garnering talk of a Ballon d’Or challenge.

One of his biggest challengers will be former club teammate and national teammate Kylian Mbappé (26). Despite a mixed start to life at Real Madrid, he does nonetheless have 31 goals in 44 games for Los Blancos in all competitions. Real Madrid are once again pushing for the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League this season.

Dembélé is a major competitor for the individual prize that Mbappé has so coveted. However, speaking to Le Parisien, the latter was full of praise for the former.

‘Is Rodri a Ballon d’Or player for you?’ – Mbappé

“With Ousmane, it is easy. We speak every day. Seeing what he is achieving affects me personally because I know how much he has been criticised and mocked. Since the age of 14, I have been his biggest fan,” said Mbappé.

The France captain then evoked the Ballon d’Or debate when asked specifically if Dembélé could win it. “The Ballon d’Or? What is a Ballon d’Or player? Is Rodri a Ballon d’Or player for you? I thought that the Ballon d’Or would go to Vini Jr. but in the end, it went to Rodri. If I’d told you three months ago, you’d have said, ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Now, we don’t know who is going to win the Ballon d’Or but you can’t rule anyone out because any player can be rewarded, even a goalkeeper maybe,” he said.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle