Ronaldinho will present the Ballon d’Or on Monday, with Dembélé and Yamal emerging as the leading contenders
Ronaldinho is anticipated to present the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé at the forefront of the competition.
As the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony begins at the Théâtre du Châtelet on Monday, September 22, the football world will be focusing on Paris. The prize will likely be presented by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, exactly 20 years after he accepted the coveted honor in 2005, which will only heighten the excitement.
Ronaldinho’s return to the Ballon d’Or stage is very likely, according to reputable sources like COPE and Mundo Deportivo, even if the organizers have not yet formally confirmed his position. Given that two players from his previous teams, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, are the main attractions of this year’s competition, the potential has already excited supporters.
The front-runners, Ousmane Dembélé and 18-year-old wonder Lamine Yamal, are both having stellar seasons for their teams and nations.
Widely considered Barcelona’s next generation star, Yamal led his team to a historic triple of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa triumphs. 18 goals, 21 assists, a European Championship victory with Spain, and several records as the youngest El Clásico scorer and the youngest player to make 100 club appearances were all part of his incredible season.
Under Luis Enrique, Dembélé has been the driving force behind Paris Saint-Germain, leading the French champions to their first-ever UEFA Champions League victory, a treble in Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France.
With impressive performances in crucial games, his season-long dominance was highlighted by his 32 goals and eight assists.
Dembélé’s admirers include Ronaldinho, who said, “He has a bit of Brazilian style, he dribbles, creates, and surprises you.” “This wouldn’t even be a debate if his name was Messi or Ronaldo,” PSG sporting director Luis Campos insisted.
The contest is still too close to call, with Yamal representing youth and football’s future and Dembélé providing experience, stats, and trophy. However, if Ronaldinho does deliver the award, it will be a momentous occasion, a former champion passing the torch to a new hero who will define the next chapter in the history of the game.
