Football fans around the world are looking forward to the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which will take place on Monday, September 22, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Reports suggest that Brazilian legend Ronaldinho will present the prestigious award to this year’s winner. Although organisers have not officially confirmed it, excitement is already building.
This year’s contest is expected to be a close battle between Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé — two players following in Ronaldinho’s footsteps at clubs where he made history.
Yamal, just 18 years old, enjoyed a breakthrough season with Barcelona, scoring 18 goals and providing 21 assists. He helped his club win a domestic treble and also guided Spain to European Championship glory. Supporters say his record-breaking campaign shows that age should not stand in the way of him winning football’s highest individual prize.
On the other side, Dembélé has been in outstanding form under PSG manager Luis Enrique, scoring 32 goals and providing eight assists as he led the French club to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title and a historic treble.
PSG Sporting Director Luis Campos strongly backed him for the award.
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“If his name were Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there would be no discussion. If Dembélé does not win, it suggests a failure on the part of the voters,” Campos said.
Even Ronaldinho himself has spoken highly of Dembélé’s talent.
“He has a slightly Brazilian style! He invents, he provokes, he’s often unreadable, and he scores a lot of goals. He’s revealing himself, bursting into a different role than he did at PSG last year or at Barcelona,” Ronaldinho told L’Equipe.
Whether Ronaldinho hands the trophy to Yamal or Dembélé, football fans are set for what promises to be one of the most dramatic Ballon d’Or nights in recent years.