Ballon d'Or 2025 winner 'leaked' hours before lavish Paris awards ceremony

Ousmane Dembele will be confirmed as the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, according to a new leak from the French press. The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday night, with some of the game's elites expected to attend one of the biggest night's in the football calendar.

The coveted individual honour will be presented to the standout performer of the 2024/25 season, in what is the 69th edition of the French Football accolade. Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed the top men's prize last year, whilst Barcelona and Spain forward Aitana Bonmati won the women's award.

Ahead of this evening's ceremony, a report from France suggests that the men's award will go to Paris Saint-Germain striker Dembele. The France international proved instrumental in PSG's first ever Champions League triumph in May. However, Ballon d'Or organisers insist that neither Dembele, Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal - seen as his most likely rival to the top prize - nor any other candidate knows whether they have won the award.

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Dembele enjoyed an outstanding campaign, with 51 goal involvements in 59 matches, earning him the titles of Ligue 1 Player of the Season, Ligue 1 Golden Boot and Champions League Player of the Season. He also helped PSG secure the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and the French Super Cup in their historic campaign.

He will be be one of three PSG players in attendance tonight, alongside Desire Doue and Joao Neves.

The Champions League winners are in action on Monday night, facing bitter rivals Marseille in a rescheduled Ligue 1 match after it was postponed over the weekend, due to severe weather conditions, but all three are injured and will appear at the awards on behalf of the club.

In contrast to Dembele, Yamal, 18, contributed to 46 goals in 61 games and was named La Liga Young Player of the Season as Barcelona clinched La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre told El Chiringuito that he expects the young Spain starlet to tale the crown instead. He said: "I think Lamine wins the Ballon d'Or for sure.

"What amazes me is they [Barcelona] haven't won the Champions League. There's no World Cup either, so logically in France, it should be debated between [Ousmane] Dembele, Vitinha, Achraf [Hakimi]. PSG has already won everything this year."

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