Gareth Bale: Dembele is clear 2025 Ballon d’Or favourite

Gareth Bale believes the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is “already tilted” toward Ousmane Dembele after the Welsh icon watched the winger inspire Paris Saint-Germain to a historic treble in 2024-25. Speaking to Spanish radio, Bale praised Dembele’s new-found consistency, saying the Frenchman “has finally married outrageous talent with end-product” and is, by some distance, ahead of teenage phenom Lamine Yamal and PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappé in the early voting calculus.

Gareth Bale explains his Ballon d’Or logic

Bale’s argument centres on big-match impact. He highlighted Dembele’s six Champions League knockout assists, including two in the final against Manchester City, plus the decisive goal in the Coupe de France triumph. “Awards reward winners,” Bale reasoned, “and nobody is winning more — or dazzling more — than Dembele right now.” While acknowledging Yamal’s electrifying breakout at Barcelona and Mbappé’s prolific Ligue 1 tally, Bale insisted that Dembele’s silverware haul “sets him apart by some way.”

Dembele’s resurgence under Luis Enrique

The 27-year-old has shed the “injury-prone” label that dogged his Barcelona stint. Luis Enrique’s positional tweak — granting Dembele freedom to drift centrally — produced 18 goals and a league-high 21 assists. Beyond numbers, his defensive work-rate and pressing intensity earned plaudits from analysts who once criticised his tactical discipline. “He is the complete modern winger now,” Bale noted.

Where Yamal and Mbappé stand

At just 17, Lamine Yamal dazzled La Liga with audacious dribbles and clutch performances, notably a last-minute winner in El Clásico. However, Barcelona’s trophyless campaign dents his candidacy. Mbappé, meanwhile, remains Ligue 1’s top scorer but ceded Champions League headlines to Dembele. With Real Madrid rumours swirling, Mbappé may need a galvanising move to reclaim narrative momentum.

Reactions across Spain and France

Spanish outlets praised Bale’s “refreshing honesty,” while French media revelled in a Real Madrid legend endorsing a PSG star. Former Ballon d’Or winner Zinedine Zidane sided with Bale, declaring Dembele “unplayable when confident.” Conversely, Barcelona great Xavi maintained that “individual brilliance at 17” should not be overlooked, hinting Yamal’s ceiling is “even higher.”

What the numbers say

• Dembele: 18 G, 21 A, treble winner
• Mbappé: 34 G, 10 A, Ligue 1 champion
• Yamal: 14 G, 16 A, no trophies
Opta’s Ballon d’Or predictor now lists Dembele with a 42% probability, Mbappé 28%, Yamal 17%, others 13%.

Primary focus: Gareth Bale’s verdict in context

Gareth Bale knows what it takes to sway award voters; the former Madrid winger twice finished in the Ballon d’Or top three after decisive Champions League moments. His endorsement therefore carries weight among journalists and captains who form the voting pool. Bale also remains a global ambassador for La Liga, giving his praise of a Ligue 1 star extra credibility.

Could Euro 2024 shift the narrative?

An international tournament often reboots Ballon d’Or debates. If Mbappé fires France to glory or Yamal drags Spain deep, the equation changes. Yet Bale still gives Dembele the edge, stressing that “club season output sets the platform” and tournaments merely “add sparkle.”

Expert panel split but leaning Dembele

A Sky Sports roundtable produced five votes for Dembele, three for Mbappé and two for Yamal. Pundit Jamie Carragher argued, “Consistency across nine months trumps highlight reels,” echoing Bale’s stance. Karen Carney countered that Mbappé’s “box-office charisma” could seduce voters late.

Financial and legacy implications

Winning the Ballon d’Or could trigger lucrative clauses in Dembele’s contract and raise PSG’s global profile post-Mbappé. For Barcelona, Yamal’s near-miss would still validate La Masia’s pipeline, while Real Madrid might view Bale’s comments as indirect pressure to complete the Mbappé signing.

Short opinion

Gareth Bale’s pick is hard to dispute. In a sport that prizes decisive moments on the biggest stage, Dembele has delivered them all season. Unless Mbappé dazzles at Euro 2024 or Yamal accelerates Barcelona’s rebuild, the French winger deserves to stroll to Paris dressed in gold.