Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Ousmane Dembélé faces a historic opportunity to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or after a shocking decision from FIFA’s Gianni Infantino. In an interview with France Football, Infantino revealed that Dembélé just needs to “complete one last mission” to almost certainly receive the most prestigious individual award in world football, without PSG winning the Champions League. Despite the details, L’Equipe’s source stated that this task is tied to Dembélé leading PSG to win the 2024/2025 Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31, 2025, with at least one goal or assist.
Dembélé, 27, has had an explosive season with 8 goals and 11 assists in the Champions League, helping PSG overcome Arsenal in the semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate score. According to Sofascore, he led Europe in the number of passes completed (68) and assists (15) across all arenas. His brilliant performance against Arsenal, particularly with the opening goal in the first leg and assists for Achraf Hakimi in the second leg, made him a leading candidate for the Golden Ball, overcoming names like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham. A post on X from @psg_inside hailed Dembélé as PSG’s “secret weapon,” while @FootballTalKeu predicted he would break the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Infantino emphasized that this year’s award will prioritize “personal impact” over collective achievements, opening up opportunities for Dembélé even if PSG doesn’t win. This contrasts with previous years, when the Champions League title was often a prerequisite. According to Dembélé, Dembélé’s mission could be to score or assist in the final, thus cementing his leadership role in Luis Enrique’s team. Infantino’s confidence has excited PSG fans, with @Parisienvn on X calling it “Dembélé’s moment to reach the top.”
However, it’s not without controversy. Some comments on X, such as @lalafanclub, argue that Manchester City’s Rodri or Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane deserve more thanks to stability. However, Dembélé’s booming style, with the support of president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, who just rewarded each player €2 million after the Arsenal game, strengthens his position. Al-Khelaïfi also promised to reward €5 million if PSG won the league, but with Dembélé, the Golden Ball was his biggest personal goal.
The final against Inter Milan will be Dembélé’s chance to complete his final mission. With the support of Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha, and William Saliba, he has all the ingredients to shine. If successful, Dembélé will not only bring glory to PSG, but also become the first French player to win the Golden Ball since Karim Benzema in 2022, making history in world football.
