Ballon d’Or 2025: ‘Best goalkeeper in the world’ Gianluigi Donnarumma deserves award after ‘historic season’ at Paris Saint-Germain - agent
Updated 07/07/2025 at 16:20 GMT+1
Gianluigi Donnarumma is being backed to win what is arguably considered to be the biggest individual prize in football, after a hugely impressive season with Paris Saint-Germain. The Italy goalkeeper played a huge role in a campaign which yielded domestic and European glory for the Parisians. His agent, Vincenzo Raiola, believes his performances warrant winning the Ballon d'Or.
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Gianluigi Donarumma has been hailed as the "best goalkeeper in the world" and "deserves" to win the Ballon d’Or after a stunning season with Paris Saint-Germain, according to his agent Vincenzo Raiola.
The 26-year-old played a starring role between the sticks, making some stunning saves along the way, as PSG completed a historic treble.
Donnarumma featured 45 times for PSG across all competitions, and it was his performances in the UEFA Champions League which made Europe sit up and take notice.
He starred in the last 16 second-leg tie against Liverpool, making saves to deny Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones in the penalty shoot-out at Anfield.
The keeper also made a string of superb stops in the quarter-finals against Aston Villa, before thwarting the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in the semi-final matches against Arsenal.
There remains an element of doubt surrounding the Italian’s future, with only a year left on Donnarumma’s current deal at the Parc des Princes.
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Watch PSG hero Donnarumma's best saves from both semi-final legs against Arsenal
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However, Raiola eased any concerns surrounding a potential departure from the European champions in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He said: "We are talking to each other, such a long negotiation is not unusual because we are talking about the best goalkeeper in the world.
"For me, Gianluigi deserves the Ballon d'Or. [Ousmane] Dembele has done a lot with his goals, but without Gianluigi's saves against Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, PSG would never have won the Champions League.
"We are optimistic. PSG is a great club. Let's let the last matches pass. The culmination of an already historic season is at stake. Then we will try to find an agreement in a reasonable time."
Luis Enrique's side are now preparing for their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
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They have proven their credentials in the very biggest matches, having kept clean sheets in each of their last four knockout games.
The Parisians will be without Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez for the match in East Rutherford on Wednesday, after both were sent off in the quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday.
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