Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal, two of the top contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or, will meet on Thursday night when France faces Spain in Stuttgart at 20:00 BST. The winner will progress to Sunday’s final to take on Portugal. Both players arrive at this international fixture after outstanding club seasons and decisive performances in the quarter-finals of the Nations League.
Despite their personal achievements, Yamal dismissed the idea that the outcome of this encounter should determine the Ballon d’Or winner. “If you were voting, would you go for the best over the year or someone who wins one match?” the Barcelona forward asked during an interview with El Partidazo de COPE. “I would choose the best across the season. I don’t focus on that prize; I just play and aim to win.”
Contrasting numbers from a standout season
Paris St-Germain’s Dembele outscored his Spanish counterpart by a clear margin, finishing with 33 goals to Yamal’s 18. However, Yamal provided more assists – 21 compared to 13 – and spent far more time on the pitch, clocking 4,548 minutes to the Frenchman’s 3,286.
Yamal also operated in a league widely considered more competitive overall. He attempted more shots than Dembele, though Dembele boasted a far better conversion rate. The Barcelona youngster also had the edge in dribbles completed and success rate, as well as defensive metrics like tackles, duels won, and ball recoveries.
Both players collected domestic league and cup doubles and won their national equivalents of the Community Shield. Dembele added the Champions League title to his list of honours.
A turnaround season for Dembele
Just months ago, few could have predicted Dembele would reach this level. He ended the campaign as Ligue 1’s top scorer and was recognised as the Champions League’s best player. Once seen as a talent who never quite delivered on his promise, Dembele had only previously hit double digits for goals once in a league season – his breakout year at Rennes in 2015-16.
His season took a major turn in December when Luis Enrique switched his role from the right wing to a central attacking position against Lyon. Dembele scored in that 3-1 victory, beginning a stretch where he netted 18 times in 10 matches. Though he slowed down towards the end of the season, with just one goal in his last 10 games, he still reached 33 overall.
He added two more international goals during the Nations League run, bringing his total of competitive goals for France up significantly. Dembele also delivered 13 assists for PSG, including two in their emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Luis Enrique praised his all-round contribution, saying, “I would give the Ballon d’Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele. The way he defended alone could be worth the award.” Dembele still has a chance to further boost his Ballon d’Or credentials at the upcoming Club World Cup.
Yamal’s extraordinary rise at 17
Yamal’s rise has been unlike anything seen in recent years. At just 17, he already has an international championship with Spain, a domestic treble with Barcelona, and over 100 senior appearances. His contributions in the current campaign included 18 goals and 25 assists across 55 matches.
He earned a place in the Champions League team of the year and delivered standout displays, especially in the semi-final clash against Inter. Inter boss Simone Inzaghi said Yamal left a strong impression and caused major problems despite efforts to contain him.
His goals often came in crucial moments – three in four games against Real Madrid and a stunning effort in the European semi-final were among the highlights. He also scored against the Netherlands in the Nations League quarter-finals.
Valued at 400 million euros by the CIES Football Observatory, Yamal recently signed a six-year extension with Barcelona. At 17, he has multiple chances to become the youngest Ballon d’Or winner – currently a record held by Ronaldo at 21.
