Kylian Mbappé Confirms Ballon d’Or Boycott While Backing Ousmane Dembélé

Real Madrid Forward Kylian Mbappé Has Confirmed He Will Not Attend This Year’s Ballon d’Or Ceremony, Despite Publicly Backing His Close Friend And France Teammate Ousmane Dembélé To Lift The Prestigious Award.

Mbappé Names His Pick For 2025 Ballon d’Or

The Ceremony Will Be Held On Monday Night At The Théâtre Du Châtelet In Paris, With PSG’s Dembélé Considered The Strong Favourite Ahead Of Barcelona’s Prodigy Lamine Yamal And PSG Midfielder Vitinha.

Mbappé, Who Has Yet To Claim A Ballon d’Or Himself, Explained His Position Clearly:
“I’ll Watch The Ceremony On Television. I Hope Dembele Wins,” Said The French Captain.

Real Madrid’s Continued Boycott

Mbappé’s Decision Reflects Real Madrid’s Boycott Policy, Which Emerged Last Year After Reports Incorrectly Suggested Vinícius Júnior Had Won, Only For Manchester City’s Rodri To Claim The Prize. Club President Florentino Pérez Was Reportedly Furious At The Leaks, Prompting Madrid To Snub The Event — A Stance That Appears To Continue This Year.

Dembélé The Frontrunner

Predictive Models Place Ousmane Dembélé As The Leading Candidate For The 2025 Award, Though Organisers Have Reiterated That The Result Remains Secret.
“No Player And No Club Knows The Winner Of This Year’s Ballon d’Or Yet,” A Statement Read Ahead Of The Event.

If Successful, This Would Be The First Ballon d’Or Of Dembélé’s Career, Cementing His Status As One Of The World’s Most Influential Footballers. Mbappé’s Public Support Only Adds Another Layer Of Intrigue To A Ceremony Already Shrouded In Anticipation.

Conclusion

While Mbappé Watches From Afar, The Football World Awaits To See Whether His Friend And Teammate Dembélé Will Finally Secure The Award. Whatever The Outcome, The 2025 Ballon d’Or Highlights Both The Politics And Prestige That Make It The Most Coveted Individual Prize In Football.