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A new Ballon D'Or favorite has emerged following Spain's UEFA Nations League heart break, and its not Lamine Yamal after being given a run for his money by Portugal's Nuno Mendes in the final.
Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d'Or ambitions took a significant hit following Spain’s crushing UEFA Nations League final defeat to Portugal — and a tough personal duel with Nuno Mendes — just as Ousmane Dembele surged to the top of the award's contenders list.
Portugal edged past Spain 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Munich, with Mendes producing a standout display that earned him Player of the Match honors.
The Paris Saint-Germain left-back scored Portugal’s opener and effectively nullified Spain’s teenage sensation Yamal in their one-on-one battle.
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Mendes didn’t hold back when asked about his performance. “I feel like I cancelled him out,” he said of the 17-year-old as quoted on ESPN. Then came a surprise endorsement: “For me, Dembélé deserves the Ballon d’Or.”
The comment was a blow to Yamal, who was central to Spain’s attacking play and did assist during the final.
But the teenager’s overall impact was overshadowed by Mendes' dominance and the dramatic Portuguese victory — one that saw a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo limp off before the shootout.
Dembele Emerges as Frontrunner
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While Yamal’s Nations League disappointment added to Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final exit against Inter Milan, his PSG counterpart has seen his stock soar.
Dembele, 28, is now the bookmakers’ leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or after helping PSG win the treble.
The French winger has enjoyed a sensational campaign, tallying 33 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
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He was crowned Ligue 1’s Player of the Year after racking up 21 goals and eight assists in just 29 league games.
Dembele’s Champions League performances have been equally decisive: he assisted Nuno Mendes’ quarter-final winner and played a direct role in both goals that sealed their semi-final triumph over Arsenal.
He featured in all 90 minutes of PSG’s recent 3-0 Coupe de France final victory over Reims, striking the woodwork and forcing two saves, even without registering a goal or assist, before registering three assists as PSG battered Inter Milan 5-0 in the final of the UEFA Champions League.
He also was crowned the player of the tournament following PSG’s triumph.
Yamal’s Season Not Enough?
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Despite the final setback, Yamal’s 2024–25 season remains historically impressive. The Barcelona prodigy directly contributed to 45 goals — 19 goals and 26 assists — more than any other teenager in elite football.
His performances over the last six weeks were particularly breathtaking. He dominated the Copa del Rey final with assists for Pedri and Torres, then set up Raphinha in a thrilling 4-3 league win over Celta.
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21:30 - 07.06.2025
Benni McCarthy Made to Wait for First Harambee Stars Win as Wasteful Kenya Fail to Breach Chad
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy watched his side waste a number of opportunities to draw against Chad in their friendly match in Marrakech, Morocco on Saturday.
In the El Clásico that followed, he scored a sublime curler past Thibaut Courtois and repeatedly tormented Real Madrid's defense. A league-sealing goal and assist at Espanyol, and another goal versus Villarreal, underlined his remarkable consistency.
Yet even with such individual brilliance, the narrative has shifted. Team accolades are weighing heavier in the Ballon d’Or debate — and Dembele, with a treble and continued Nations League and Club World Cup action on the horizon, suddenly has the perfect platform to eclipse Yamal in the final stretch.
With the Club World Cup up next, Dembele has the opportunity to deliver the defining performance of his career. Yamal, meanwhile, will need to regroup after a heartbreaking defeat and hope his club and personal feats still resonate with voters come Ballon d'Or season.
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