Ballon d'Or: "I was never the chosen one," Ousmane Dembélé responds to Kylian Mbappé

After PSG's victory in Brest on Sunday (0-1), the Parisian spoke about his chances for the Ballon d'Or, indirectly echoing recent comments from Kylian Mbappé.

On October 26th, the Ballon d'Or ceremony will crown the best footballer of the 2025-26 season. And it could, like last year with Ousmane Dembélé, be French. The PSG striker even has a chance of succeeding himself. Among his competitors is his compatriot, Kylian Mbappé, who expressed confidence in his chances in an interview with France Football.

“People say I haven’t won a (team) trophy. But it’s an individual trophy,” Mbappé emphasized, adding that he “can win it.” When asked about Dembélé, who seemed less destined than him to one day win the Ballon d’Or, the Real Madrid star replied: “He’s always been seen as a talented player. I’ve always been seen as the chosen one. I was at the top right away, very early on. He had a different path, with injuries, but he’s made up for it!”

"I have always worked hard."

After PSG's victory away to Brest in Ligue 1 on Sunday (1-0), Dembélé was asked about the Ballon d'Or. "I've always been at the bottom of the class, working hard. Throughout my career, I haven't said a word, I've worked incredibly hard. I've never been the chosen one, but I've worked extremely hard. I was rewarded last year after a fantastic year with Paris Saint-Germain."

Will he be the voters' number one again? "We'll see, no pressure, relaxed," replied the 29-year-old striker, who won the Champions League again last season, even though it was his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who was named the competition's best player. Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Jude Bellingham are among the most frequently mentioned favorites.