Messi’s teammate votes for Dembele to win the Ballon d'Or

Midfielder Sergio Busquets has forecasted that his ex-teammate at Barcelona, Ousmane Dembele, will secure the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

Among the contenders for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembele is regarded as the most likely player to receive this prestigious award.

This had been anticipated by players and experts alike, as the French forward delivered an impressive performance throughout the past season. Recently, Sergio Busquets, Dembele’s former teammate at Barcelona, also expressed that he deserves to be the winner of this year’s Ballon d'Or.

In an interview with TNT Sports, the Spanish midfielder stated: “I hope Ousmane Dembele wins the Ballon d'Or. This year, he has shown a much higher and more consistent level of performance compared to others.

Of course, there are other Barcelona players who also deserve recognition, but the final decision will depend on the voters’ ballots. I just hope the award goes to the truly deserving individual.”

During his time at Barcelona, Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele played together in a total of 159 matches across all competitions, but they only combined for one goal. In the summer of 2023, Dembele left Camp Nou to join PSG, while Busquets also departed Barca to reunite with Lionel Messi for the second time at Inter Miami.

As for Dembele, after a first season at PSG that fell short of expectations, the 1997-born star truly flourished under coach Luis Enrique’s guidance.

The French forward scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 matches across all competitions, becoming a crucial figure in PSG’s pursuit of the treble, which included the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

Alongside Dembele, Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are also considered strong candidates for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Both contributed significantly to the Catalan club’s domestic treble.

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