Ballon d’Or 2025: Marcus Rashford explains why Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele should be considered top contenders for the esteemed award.

In a stunning display of talent, 17-year-old Yamal has left fans and pundits alike in awe after scoring a sensational goal for Barcelona. The young prodigy is quickly becoming a household name, and as the 2025 Ballon d’Or approaches, it appears to be shaping up as a fierce contest between him and Ousmane Dembélé.

Yamal played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s domestic treble last season, showcasing his extraordinary skills on the pitch. Meanwhile, Dembélé was equally impressive for Paris Saint-Germain, helping the French giants secure a historic treble, which included their first UEFA Champions League title.

Marcus Rashford, who made waves as a teenager with Manchester United, has expressed his admiration for Yamal’s remarkable achievements at such a young age. Speaking to the YouTube channel XBuyer, Rashford said, “It’s difficult to put into words what he is doing because he’s not supposed to be doing that at 16, 17. He is playing at 17 at the highest level; I don’t think we have seen it.”

Rashford continued, highlighting Yamal’s exceptional mentality: “To have this mentality is a skill. It is not normal to be able to do what he does, not only now because he will keep improving. In three years’ time, we don’t know what we are going to say about him.”

When discussing the potential Ballon d’Or showdown between Yamal and Dembélé, Rashford remarked, “If you look at it just from football ability, I think he (Yamal) has to win, but then if you look at Dembélé with the Champions League win.. it depends how you see it. I wouldn’t be disappointed whichever of them won.”

Rashford’s own future remains uncertain, with speculation linking him to a move to Barcelona. Currently under contract with Manchester United until 2028, he spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favour under manager Ruben Amorim.

When asked if he would like to play alongside Yamal, Rashford responded enthusiastically, “Yeah, sure. Everybody in the world wants to play with the best. So hopefully, we’ll see..”

In addition to his admiration for Yamal, Rashford shared that he feels “more comfortable” playing as a central forward rather than on the wing. “For me, as I’ve got older, the No. 9 position is becoming more comfortable, more natural,” he explained. “Things like playing with back to goal are becoming easier for me; you’re always in front of the goal and always dangerous.”

Currently training in Marbella as he gears up for the 2025/26 season, Rashford noted the appeal of Spain, saying, “Spain is nice, it’s not too far from home. If I’m training over a long period, my family can come for a few days; it’s a nice location and good weather.”

As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Yamal, Rashford, and the thrilling competition for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.