Welsh football legend Gareth Bale has named Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmané Dembélé as his clear favorite to win the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or. According to Bale, the Frenchman stands out "by some way" among other contenders.
Since retiring in 2023, former Real Madrid star and Welsh icon, Gareth Bale has been involved in various activities. He is currently attempting to acquire a stake in his hometown club Cardiff City. In addition to this venture, he has also tried his hand at punditry with successful stints at DAZN during the Club World Cup.
Despite being considered one of Britain's greatest footballers ever, Bale’s peak years coincided with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance. Consequently, he never clinched a Ballon d’Or himself but managed to finish within the top 20 five times.
Race for Ballon d'Or post Messi-Ronaldo era
With Messi and Ronaldo moving on to MLS and Saudi Arabia respectively, the race for this esteemed individual prize has become more competitive than ever before. However, Messi did manage to secure his eighth award in 2023 following Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar.
The current holder of the award is Rodri which sparked controversy as many believed that Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior would be crowned winner in 2024. The debate over who will claim victory for 2025 continues unabated but according to Bale it isn't particularly close at all. When asked by ESPN about Dembélé’s credentials for winning the award he said: “I think you also have to look at what teams have won."
Gareth Bale, Real Madrid legend, said:
“I think everyone obviously talks about individuals, but I think if you are winning those trophies as well, you're winning the Champions league, obviously they've won their domestic treble, if they win again the Club World Cup, it's hard to see anyone else from the season he's had and he's transformed them into trophies as well as the season he's had,”
Deserving contender
Dembélé has been instrumental in leading an exceptional PSG team that narrowly missed out on world domination. Despite this, his role as a fluid false nine has been pivotal to Luis Enrique’s side's success. He scored his 35th goal of the season in PSG’s Club World Cup semifinal victory over Real Madrid. Bale firmly believes that Dembélé's performance makes him the front runner for the Ballon d'Or "by some way."
While Dembélé is Bale's clear favorite, other players are also vying for the award. Barcelona duo Raphinha and Lamine Yamal are strong contenders, while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah had a record-breaking season in the Premier League. Additionally, Vitinha’s outstanding form at the base of PSG’s midfield has put him squarely in contention.
As sports fans and betting enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of this year's Ballon d'Or winner, it remains to be seen whether Bale's prediction will come true.
