Dembele tipped to edge Yamal as Bonmati chases third Ballon d’Or

PARIS Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele is tipped to hold off Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and win the men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, while Aitana Bonmati’s chances of claiming a third straight women’ prize hang in the balance.

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The cream of world football will gather at the Théâtre du Châtelet in central Paris to discover who will be the latest winners of an award dominated for so long by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Those two won the Ballon d’Or 13 times between them from 2008 to 2023, with last year finally marking the end of an era when the accolade went to Manchester City midfielder Rodri after he captained Spain to Euro 2024 glory.

With Rodri not a contender to retain the most prestigious individual prize in football after last season was marred by injury, Dembele has emerged as the favourite from a list of nominees dominated by PSG. Nine members of the team that won the Uefa Champions League, demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, feature among the 30 nominees.

They include Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz and Vitinha, as well as goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now with Manchester City.