The PSG player could be the first French player to win this prize since Benzema wins. Discover with Betfair why it would be the most expensive balloon d'Or in football history.
All roads lead to Paris. The Théâtre du Châtelet is located in this city, where the Ballon d'Or will be awarded next Monday 22 September.
This valuable prize recognizes the best player of the 2024/25 season, a distinction for which Ousmane Dembélé is the favorite.
The figures support the former FC Barcelona player, who this season has been the most excellent player for the best team in Europe, PSG.
The Luis Enrique team plays this Sunday to be crowned world champion against Chelsea, a title that would be much closer to the most expensive balloon d'Or in history.
The first balloon d'Or worth more than 100 million
It is clear that the transfer market has experienced considerable inflation in recent decade. This is reflected in the average value of players; Things have started generating more income and more money has been spent.
In fact, the 15 most expensive transfers in football history have all taken place in the past 10 years. This inflation peaked when PSG broke the bank by depositing the release clause of € 222 million from Neymar in 2017.
This movement led to the arrival of Ousmane Dembélé in Barça. The Frenchman cost a total of 135 million euros that same summer, according to transfer market, a figure that places him on this list in 4th place.
El Mosquito did not meet expectations in Barcelona, but he has finally proven his value in Paris. This year he could become the first player to win a balloon d'Or after cost more than 100 million euros.
This would give him the honor to be the most expensive winner in the market in history. He would overtake Cristiano Ronaldo, who cost Real Madrid a total of 94 million in 2009.
This step must be taken into account, not the transfer costs of € 117 million that he cost Juventus in 2018, because he never won a balloon d'Or, since that amount was paid for his signing.
These are the most expensive transfers in history (transfer market):
Neymar: 222 million (2017)
Kylian Mbappé: 180 million (2018)
Philippe Coutinho: 135 million (2017)
Ousmane Dembélé: 135 million (2017)
João Félix: 127.2 million (2019)
Dembélé's statistics for the 24/25 season
Without a doubt, the French player has released the highest scoring form of his career under Luis Enrique.
Ousmane Dembélé has become an important player in the schedule of the European champion. Despite the fact that he did not score in the final, the MUG scored a total of eight goals in the top continental competition.
In all competitions, the former Barça player has registered a total of 35 goals and 16 assists in 52 games. These figures give him an average of almost one target involvement per match.
He has therefore been the most excellent player in terms of figures for the best team in the world. With the Treble of Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Champions League under their belts, the Parisians strive for their fourth title of the season: the Club World Cup.
To do this, they must beat Chelsea in the final of next Sunday. If they do that, the French side will keep their dream to win seven titles intact in a year and to move Dembélé closer to the Ballon d'Or.
A hat trick away from the balloon d'Or?
Due to physical problems, Ousmane Dembélé was unable to participate in the opening games of his team at the World Cup club. In fact, he was not present for the brilliant 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid.
However, the Frenchman quickly picked up the pace and has already scored in the quarterfinals and semi -finals. That is why it is not unreasonable to think that he could find the net again in the final and be fighting until the end of the end of the tournament.
If Dembélé achieved this individual success, the Ballon d'Or would be a foregone conclusion.
The PSG player has a total of two goals, so he will have to score a brace in the final to be equal to the top scorers of the competition, who have four.
That is why only a hat trick would enable him to win this prize alone. Will he be able to reach it and get close to the balloon d'Or?