Dembélé: I don't like to put myself in the spotlight, and Kvaratskhelia deserves the Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembélé, the star of Paris Saint-Germain, has confirmed that he does not like to talk about himself in the Ballon d'Or race, during a joint interview with his Georgian teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before the match against Olympique Marseille in the classic of Ligue 1.

Ousmane Dembélé, the Ballon d'Or holder, stated that he sees Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as deserving of the award this year, praising the level he showed during the last season. He said: "I would be very happy if he won it; he deserves it. The season he had was exceptional, and for me, he is the best player in the world. He deserves the Ballon d'Or."

Ousmane Dembélé's statements come at a time when Kylian Mbappé continues to talk about his right to win the award, as the Real Madrid forward repeatedly expresses his desire to claim it.

Ousmane Dembélé explained the reason for his reluctance to talk about himself, saying: "The coach reminds us every day that we need to put the group before thinking about ourselves. This is natural. Personally, I don't like to put myself in the spotlight, and it's difficult to talk about myself. The most important thing is the moments of joy we experience with our teammates on the pitch."

In contrast, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia did not hesitate to reveal his choice for the Ballon d'Or, saying: "I will vote for Ousmane. Because of his playing style and the way he helps the team. His ability to lead the team is very important for us. He is an amazing player, and we are very happy to have him with us."

The winner of the Ballon d'Or for 2026 will be announced on October 26, with multiple candidates from Paris Saint-Germain, who have won the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive season.