Ballon d'Or 2025: Dembélé highlighted, anger rises at Barça | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé

At Barça, there’s a growing sense that Ousmane Dembélé is being promoted too heavily for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, unlike Lamine Yamal.

What’s frustrating the Barça-friendly press, who are solidly in Yamal’s corner, is a recent move by the official Ballon d'Or communications team. Mundo Deportivo was quick to point out that less than 24 hours after the UEFA Super Cup, the Ballon d'Or page released a video spotlighting Ousmane Dembélé as he took part in a test where he had to choose between various football legends.

In the video, the Frenchman names Lionel Messi as his ultimate MVP. But for many, this doesn’t go unnoticed: they see it as a subtle way to put Dembélé in the limelight—a media boost that could have a real impact on the Ballon d'Or race.

The Catalan press didn’t waste any time responding. They’re calling out what they see as excessive promotion of the Frenchman compared to Yamal, the young Barça star and direct rival. Even though the Ballon d'Or account posts videos and highlights of all the contenders, the fact that Dembélé was highlighted so soon after a key match is being viewed as blatant favoritism.

Between sporting achievements and media maneuvering, the race for the Ballon d'Or is shaping up to be more intense than ever.