Ousmane Dembele, the Paris Saint-Germain forward, has expressed his hope that his national teammate, Kylian Mbappe from Real Madrid, will win the prestigious Ballon d’Or. After being sidelined for six weeks due to a muscle injury, Dembele made a remarkable comeback during Matchday 3 of the Champions League, where he made an immediate impact by scoring just minutes after coming on as a substitute in PSG’s 7-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
In the mixed zone after the match, Dembele praised Mbappe’s performance and expressed his support for his friend’s success. “I hope he wins it [the Ballon d’Or]. He deserves it for his career,” Dembele stated, highlighting Mbappe’s impressive start to the season. He noted, “He keeps scoring goals. He’s a friend of mine, and I hope he continues like this. Hopefully one day he’ll win the Ballon d’Or.”
Mbappe has indeed been in exceptional form at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, scoring 10 goals in nine La Liga appearances and contributing two assists. This remarkable performance is a testament to his consistency and finishing skills, amplifying Real Madrid’s attacking prowess and strengthening their competitive position in both domestic and European tournaments.
In the Champions League, Mbappe’s talent has shone brightly, including a standout hat-trick in Real Madrid’s commanding 5-0 victory over Kairat Almaty. With such impressive statistics and endorsements from notable players like Dembele, Mbappe’s candidacy for the Ballon d’Or is gaining significant momentum. While Real Madrid may not publicly prioritize the individual accolade, the club’s leadership would undoubtedly welcome one of their leading stars at the podium during the award ceremony next year.