“If He Were Messi or Ronaldo, There’d Be No Debate” – PSG Chief on Ballon d’Or Favourite Ousmane Dembélé

SME News UK. Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos has strongly backed Ousmane Dembélé to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, insisting that the French forward’s extraordinary season leaves “no discussion” about who deserves the award.Dembélé, 28, enjoyed the most prolific campaign of his career, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists in 53 matches across all competitions. His performances propelled PSG to a historic treble, including their long-awaited UEFA Champions League triumph, and also earned him the Best Player award in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.Since the 30-man shortlist was unveiled on August 7, Dembélé has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Rodri as the Ballon d’Or winner. While many pundits have praised his achievements, none have done so as passionately as Campos.> “If Ousmane doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or, it’s because the people who voted don’t have the competence to vote,” Campos told RMC Sport.“The one who clearly deserves the Ballon d’Or is Ousmane Dembélé. There’s no discussion. If he were called Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there would be no debate. This season, the player with the best statistics, the player who excelled in all competitions, is Ousmane.”PSG’s Historic Presence at the Ballon d’OrThe French champions dominated the shortlist with a record nine nominees. Alongside Dembélé, stars such as Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma (now at Manchester City) were recognized. Campos even argued that more of his squad should have been included, pointing to the brilliance of Bradley Barcola and Willian Pacho.Hakimi and Vitinha are expected to challenge for top-10 finishes after standout seasons, while Donnarumma is considered the frontrunner for the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper.A Big Night for PSGThe Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22, hosted by Kate Scott and 1987 winner Ruud Gullit. PSG are tipped to dominate the evening, with manager Luis Enrique shortlisted for the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy and the club itself in contention for Men’s Club of the Year.But for Campos, there is only one story that matters.> “Hakimi and Vitinha had extraordinary seasons, but the truth is the best player in the Champions League and Ligue 1 is Ousmane Dembélé,” he said.As the football world turns its eyes to Paris, all signs point to Dembélé finally being crowned as the best player on the planet.