Marseille president makes controversial Ballon d’Or choice | OneFootball

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is just a matter of weeks way. A favourite has emerged, even if the race feels more open than in recent years.

The favourite to win the award is Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé. The France international was the outstanding player in PSG’s highly successful 2024/25 campaign. He scored the lion’s share of the goals as Les Parisiens won the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions, whilst also reaching the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

His nearest competitor is thought to be Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, whilst PSG’s Achraf Hakimi is also an outside shot to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Speaking at the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday, Olympique de Marseille’s president, Pablo Longoria, chose his favourite for the award. Given the club’s intense rivalry with PSG, his pick was certainly controversial.

“Without any doubt, I would give the Ballon d’Or to someone who won the Champions League, but I won’t speak publicly about PSG,” Longoria told Movistar. That is a vote, seemingly, for Dembélé.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle