Ousmane Dembélé: The Frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or
With the Ballon d’Or rapidly approaching, all signs point towards Ousmane Dembélé clinching the prestigious award. The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker enjoyed an outstanding season, netting 21 goals and providing six assists in Ligue 1, leading his team to a decisive 19-point victory in the league. In the Champions League, he added eight goals and six assists, contributing to PSG’s triumph in the final with a commanding five-goal margin.
Dembélé’s mid-season transition to a central forward role sparked a remarkable resurgence, establishing PSG as a dominant force in world football over the past few months. This successful narrative, combined with impressive stats and an array of trophies, positions him as the frontrunner for the award.
Potential Influences and Competitors
However, could the voters be influenced by Chelsea’s victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final? There’s always room for surprises. Players like Cole Palmer have their advocates, given previous instances where less-obvious candidates garnered high placements in award rankings. Despite this, Dembélé remains the overwhelming favorite due to his stellar performance throughout the season.
Evaluating the Award’s Criteria
Reflecting on who truly deserves the Ballon d’Or, it is important to consider the award’s criteria. The assessment period for the award now spans from August to July, meaning we should evaluate performance over the 2024-25 season rather than individual match moments. Acknowledging PSG’s status as possibly the top team globally, even after their Club World Cup setback, we can appreciate the season’s rollercoaster journey.
PSG’s Season Journey
Early in the season, PSG faced serious challenges, managing only one win amidst losses and draws in their initial Champions League matches, a situation that threatened their progression from the group stage. However, a marked improvement ensued, culminating in an impressive run of ten victories out of twelve games, solidifying their path to eventual success. The turning point came during a pivotal match against Liverpool, where Dembélé’s impact was undeniable, further cementing his place in the narrative arc of the season.
Comparing Contenders
On the other side of the spectrum, Liverpool had their own struggles. Despite dominating the leagues and entering the knockout phase of the Champions League strongly, their encounter with PSG derailed their campaign, reflecting a stark contrast to their earlier season successes. If we evaluate purely on goals and assists, Mohamed Salah emerges as a top contender with 54 contributions, yet examining the nuances of contributions and context, the race tightens.
Dembélé’s numbers, while impressive, must be evaluated against his minutes played, which were notably lower than those of Salah and others who logged over 4,000 minutes on the pitch. When considering his efficiency on a per-minute basis, Dembélé showcases unparalleled productivity, a crucial factor for the 2024-25 Ballon d’Or discussions.
Subjectivity in Award Selection
Ultimately, a variety of players lay claim to the award: Dembélé stands out as the key performer on the best team, while Salah’s outstanding figures reflect his contributions in a highly competitive league. Raphinha has made a compelling case with consistent performances, and Achraf Hakimi demonstrates remarkable value as a defender. Thus, the choice of the Ballon d’Or winner remains subjective, contingent upon how one interprets success and impact within different positional contexts.
Ranking the Top Candidates
Should voters prioritize success within a team versus individual standout performances? As the debate unfolds, here’s how I would rank the top candidates:
- Ousmane Dembélé, PSG
- Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
- Raphinha, Barcelona
- Achraf Hakimi, PSG
- Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
- Lamine Yamal, Barcelona
- Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona
- Harry Kane, Bayern Munich
- Pedri, Barcelona
- Julián Álvarez, Atlético Madrid
As football fans await the forthcoming awards season, the stakes have undoubtedly been raised, and the offseason holds promises of new narratives and potentially monumental shifts in the world of football.
