Gareth Bale: Dembélé deserves this season’s Ballon d’Or

Former Real Madrid player Gareth Bale names Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé as the leading candidate for this season’s Ballon d’Or.

PSG with Dembélé will face Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final this weekend — adding to their remarkable season with another prestigious trophy. The French club has already won Ligue 1 and their first Champions League title after defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich.

Dembélé has performed impressively throughout the season with 35 goals and 16 assists from 53 appearances across all competitions.

“I think you also have to look at what the teams have won. Everyone talks about individual achievements, but if you’re winning those trophies, winning the Champions League, domestic treble, and potentially the Club World Cup, it’s hard to see anyone else matching that,” Bale told ESPN.

PSG has also collected the Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions this season — just one step away from sweeping all available trophies under coach Luis Enrique.