Paul Pogba Warns It’s Now or Never for Ousmane Dembele

Former Man Utd Star Backs PSG Winger Over Lamine Yamal in Tight Ballon d’Or Race

In a year where brilliance has been abundant and the margins between greatness and immortality thinner than ever, Paul Pogba has drawn his line in the sand. The former Manchester United midfielder didn’t hesitate when asked who he believed should win the 2025 Ballon d’Or. His answer was clear and emphatic: Ousmane Dembele.

Speaking during a Twitch livestream with internet personality IShowSpeed, Pogba made an impassioned case for his former teammate, pointing not just to numbers but to the meaning behind the moments. And while Lamine Yamal may be the darling of the new generation, Pogba insists that if Ousmane Dembele doesn’t claim football’s highest individual honor now, he may never get another shot.

WHAT HAPPENED?

During a light-hearted but revealing conversation on Twitch, Paul Pogba was asked to give his pick for the upcoming Ballon d’Or. The question wasn’t even cold before Pogba launched into a passionate defence of Ousmane Dembele, his international teammate and long-time friend.

Dembele, who has often been labeled as football’s great “what if”, seems to have finally delivered on his world-class promise. The 2024-25 season was, by all accounts, his masterpiece. Playing for Paris Saint-Germain, he not only dazzled with individual brilliance but anchored a PSG side that won the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France—a historic treble that only a handful of European clubs have ever achieved.

Though PSG did narrowly miss out on the Club World Cup—falling to Chelsea in the final—Dembele’s performances across the board have elevated him from fan favorite to legitimate Ballon d’Or contender.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Ousmane DEMBELE’S CAREER-DEFINING YEAR

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Dembele finished the season with 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions. But this wasn’t just about raw numbers—it was about timing and impact. Goals in tight Champions League knockout ties, moments of inspiration in domestic finals, and a level of consistency that had previously eluded him.

What stood out most, though, was his transformation. Known for being electric yet unpredictable, Ousmane Dembele showed a new dimension in his game: maturity. He became a leader, both on and off the pitch, guiding PSG through one of the most demanding seasons in their history.

For years, injuries and inconsistency robbed him of momentum. But this season, he stayed fit, found his rhythm, and proved he could carry the expectations of a top European side on his shoulders.

WHAT POGBA SAID

“I’ll say it straight,” Pogba declared during the stream. “The Ballon d’Or? For me, Ousmane Dembele will always be ahead of Yamal! I support Ousmane Dembele 100%. He won the Champions League, he was very important this season. If he doesn’t win it this year, he’ll never get it.”

He didn’t stop there. Pogba was quick to give flowers to other PSG stars too, noting: “Hakimi and Vitinha were very good too. But Ousmane Dembele is the favourite. He has done everything a Ballon d’Or winner should do.”

Coming from someone who has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Antoine Griezmann, Pogba’s words carry weight. And in a world where football fans and pundits are often quick to shift attention to the next rising star, such as Lamine Yamal, Pogba’s loyalty to a fellow Frenchman reminds us that peak form—and not just potential—should be rewarded.

LAMINE YAMAL: THE RISING THREAT

That said, Lamine Yamal isn’t going away quietly. At just 17 years old, the Barcelona wonderkid has taken European football by storm. With 24 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, Yamal was a driving force behind Barcelona’s La Liga and Copa del Rey double.

He’s been compared to Lionel Messi, labelled a generational talent, and is already a full Spain international. The buzz around him is deafening, and while he may not yet have a Champions League medal to his name, he has time on his side—and, more importantly, the support of a massive voting base that is often swayed by narrative and promise.

A CLASSIC BALLON D’OR DILEMMA: CONSISTENCY VS. EXPLOSION

This year’s Ballon d’Or race is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. It pits Ousmane Dembele’s late bloom and elite consistency against Yamal’s meteoric rise and generational talent. One has waited years for this moment. The other is just getting started.

There’s also Raphinha, who’s enjoyed a stellar season at Barcelona, as well as perennial contenders like Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior.

But Ousmane Dembele’s unique narrative—his comeback from years of doubt and his role in one of the most dominant seasons in PSG history—makes him a sentimental and statistical favorite.

WHAT NEXT FOR Ousmane DEMBELE?

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The shortlist for the Ballon d’Or will be officially released on August 7, with the award ceremony scheduled for September 22 in Paris. For Ousmane Dembele, it will be a return to the city where his football journey began—only this time, he’ll arrive not as a prodigy but as a finished product.

Between now and then, the media will debate, fans will argue, and stats will be scrutinized. But for Ousmane Dembele, the job is done. His campaign was written in goals, assists, and silverware. Now, he just has to wait.

And should he miss out this year? As Pogba pointedly said, “If not now, then never.”