In the just-concluded Club World Cup final, Paris Saint-Germain lost 0-3 to Chelsea, missing out on the title.
Currently, bets seem to be focused on two individuals: Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.
PSG’s defeat to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final has balanced the scales that were previously tilted in favor of the Frenchman.
In the semi-final against Real Madrid, Dembélé showed the same dominance he displayed in the Champions League final, seemingly just one step away from claiming the Ballon d’Or. The Club World Cup final was supposed to be the ultimate proof to seal his win. However, things did not go as planned—he put in no notable performance in the final, remaining almost invisible.
To date, Dembélé’s honors this season include the Champions League title, tournament MVP, and a goal in the final; Ligue 1 title and top scorer; Coupe de France title; and Trophée des Champions. Next, he will face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup final.
Across the season, Dembélé made 53 appearances for PSG, contributing 35 goals and 14 assists.
Yamal is likely Dembélé’s strongest rival in this year’s Ballon d’Or race. This season, he won the La Liga title, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España with Barcelona. However, he was eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals and lost to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final, missing out on those trophies.
This season, Yamal scored 18 goals and provided 22 assists for Barcelona; for the Spanish national team, he contributed 3 goals and 1 assist.
Currently, Dembélé holds European football’s highest honor—the Champions League trophy—but Yamal has continued to shine with the magic of youth this season, repeatedly breaking records at both club and national team levels. This means he still stands a strong chance of winning the Ballon d’Or race.
