Florent Malouda throws two outsiders into the mix for the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Florent Malouda believes that two Paris Saint-Germain teammates could still scupper Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or chances.

Following Rodri's shock win in 2024, there has been great hype around the race to capture this year's award with the battle really heating up in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele traded places for favourtism before the Frenchman cemented his place at the head of affairs when Paris Saint-Germain clinched European glory against Inter.

For former Chelsea and Lyon winger Florent Malouda, continental success make Dembele the standout candidate.

"After his UEFA Champions League win, you'd have to support Dembele," said Malouda.

"Not only with the way he has improved his goalscoring and assisting but also what he delivered in the Champions League with his ability to play in different roles and the resilience he shows in the defensive side of the game.

I think that is what differentiates him from Yamal at the moment.

Dembele's outstanding campaign makes him the one to beat for many but Malouda has flagged up the potential for some of his Paris Saint-Germain teammates to beat him to football's most famous individual prize.

"Also, we should not forget the Portuguese players that play with Paris Saint-Germain," Malouda added.

"I'm talking about Vitinha, I'm talking about Nuno Mendes because those players delivered for both PSG and the [Portuguese] national team. So I think it will still be open."

Whilst the Champions League has been viewed as a deciding factor in who receives the Ballon d'Or in the past, the impact of FIFA's revamped Club World Cup competition on voting remains to be seen.

Malouda was keen to stress that there is still an opportunity for players to enhance their credentials for the award.

"The Club World Cup is yet to come and of course there will still be games left to play before the Ballon d'Or ceremony," said the four-time Ligue 1 winner.

"All these players will have to have a good Club World Cup and start to next season because there is so much talent. Dembele is the favourite but things can change quickly."

William Dobbie

• Ballon d'Or
• Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
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