2025 Ballon d’Or: Casemiro Snubs Dembele and Yamal, Names Surprise Winner
- The 2025 Ballon d'Or race is gradually coming to an end, with the award scheduled to be held on September 22,
- Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele is the favourite to win the most coveted individual award in football
- Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has picked his winner, and it is not the two popular and public choices
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has picked his 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, and it is not one of the two popular candidates, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal.
Dembele and Yamal are the two leading favourites to win the award after brilliant individual and collective seasons with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, respectively.
Source: Getty Images
The French attacker stands tall over the teenager after helping PSG win their first UEFA Champions League trophy and was named the tournament’s best player.
Casemiro picks his Ballon d'Or winner
Manchester United star Casemiro has weighed in on the ongoing Ballon d'Or debate and revealed who he believes should be the winner of the award.
The former Real Madrid star snubbed the popular choices and picked a Manchester United rival as the deserved winner of the award this year.
“For me, it’s very difficult. But in my opinion, at this moment, for me, Salah. He’s the best player with his impact in this game,” Casemiro told British GQ, as quoted by United District.
“He scores so much, assists so much. I think Liverpool didn’t win this trophy, for example, the Champions League or another trophy, because he dropped off a little in the second part of the season.
“But for me, the most balanced in the season is Salah.”
His answer would not sit well with the United faithfuls because of their eternal rivals with Liverpool, the club for which Mohamed Salah plays.
Salah had a record-breaking goalscoring season, winning the Premier League's Golden Boot with 29 goals and the Playmaker's Award with 18 assists.
Source: Getty Images
Mohamed Salah eyes Ballon d'Or
The Egyptian winger did not shy away from saying he wants to win the award after a top-performing season for Premier League champions Liverpool.
Salah, speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, as quoted by ESPN in May, admitted that this year is his best chance of winning the award.
“I would say I never had a season like this and winning big trophies, so I would say this is my best chance to get it right now while I'm in the club,” he said.
“It's been a crazy year, a crazy season with a trophy. It's given me a good chance.”
However, his path to victory was dented after Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League in the round of 16, losing to eventual winners PSG on penalties.
Dembele speaks about winning Ballon d'Or
Legit.ng reported that Ousmane Dembele spoke about winning the Ballon d'Or after helping PSG beat Tottenham Hotspur to win the UEFA Super Cup.
The French attacker was named the man of the match in the final, but he claimed he is after winning trophies for the club, and individual awards will follow.
Source: Legit.ng
