Joe Cole, Owen Hargreaves back Paris Saint-Germain stars to lead Ballon d'Or race after Champions League win - 'They’ll be the front-runner'
Published 07/08/2025 at 10:14 GMT+1
With less than two months to go until the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner is announced, two former England internationals have weighed in on who they think should be crowned the world's best player. TNT Sports pundits Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves believes a PSG player is likely to lift the trophy, thanks to the club's UEFA Champions League success. Ousmane Dembele is the hot favourite for the accolade.
Who do our pundits pick for the Ballon d'Or?
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Ousmane Dembele might be the overwhelming favourite to win this year's men's Ballon d'Or, but one former England international thinks the prestigious award should be given to one of his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates.
The shortlist is expected to be dominated by players from Luis Enrique's side, following their stunning UEFA Champions League final success over Internazionale.
The award ceremony will take place in Paris, on Monday, September 22, and sees Dembele as many judges' favourite to be crowned the world's best player.
TNT Sports' Joe Cole is a big fan of the French international, but the Englishman believes he also faces strong competition for the trophy.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder said: "I think Dembele’s got to be a shout, hasn't he? How he led the line for PSG.
"Vitinha, the midfield boy, I don't think it needs to constantly go to the goal-scorers as well.
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"Vitinha ran the show in the [Champions League] final from midfield.
"I've got a soft spot for Vitinha; I think he could be the Ballon d’Or [winner]."
Vitinha has truly risen to the fore over the last couple of seasons, and the 2024/25 campaign was arguably his most successful to date.
The 25-year-old netted eight goals across 59 appearances in all competitions, including his showings at the FIFA Club World Cup, while the midfielder also contributed a further five assists.
He was rewarded for that form in February, when he penned a new contract that runs until 2029.
A few months later, the midfielder lifted the Champions League as PSG completed an historic treble, having also landed the Coupe de France and Ligue 1 titles. Vitinha was also part of the Portugal side that claimed the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League over Iberian rivals Spain.
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Another player who was instrumental in PSG's success was Dembele, scorer of a sensational 35 goals in 53 matches.
And that, according to Cole's fellow former England international and TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves, makes him the correct favourite for the Ballon d'Or.
"You'd probably have to say Dembele," Hargreaves said.
"I think Raphinha's numbers were absolutely exceptional. Yamal will be thereabouts, I think.
"There are so many contenders. Mo Salah had a season for the ages, didn't he? In terms of goals and assists as well.
"But I think just from the jump that he made, I think Dembele, and winning the Champions League and virtually playing a position he's never played before - as a striker, as a false nine - and then winning the Champions League and him being kind of the star of that, I think he'll probably be the front-runner.
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"But again, we've seen it doesn't always go according to plan. Rodri got it the year before, when everybody thought Vini [Vinicius] Jr. would get it.
"So, I think whoever wins at the end of that season, they’ll be the front-runner."
Aside from Dembele and Vitinha, Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is also considered a strong contender for the trophy.
PSG pair Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi are also high up in TNT Sports' Power Rankings, as are the likes of Liverpool's Salah and Chelsea star Cole Palmer.
Lionel Messi is the only previous PSG player to win the Ballon d'Or, doing so in 2021.
The list of nominees are announced on Thursday, August 7.
Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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