Claude Makelele Backs Dembele Over Yamal for Ballon d’Or

Claude Makelele, the midfield icon who anchored Real Madrid’s Galáctico era, has waded into the early discourse about the next Ballon d’Or by placing Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé ahead of Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal in the pecking order. Speaking at a sponsorship event in Madrid, the Frenchman emphasised that talent alone is never enough, a message he knows well from his own days dominating midfields for club and country.

Claude Makelele outlines Ballon d’Or criteria

Asked which player could break the recent Lionel Messi-Kylian Mbappé stranglehold on world football’s most prestigious individual honour, Claude Makelele named Dembélé without hesitation. According to the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star, the 26-year-old PSG winger now has the platform to convert flashes of brilliance into a sustained campaign—something the award’s voters always demand. Makelele stressed consistency, decisive contributions in knockout matches, and leadership within a dressing room packed with egos as the three pillars that separate genuine Ballon d’Or contenders from exciting youngsters.

Lamine Yamal told to “prove it over time”

While praising the Barcelona teenager’s unmatched composure on the ball, Claude Makelele urged caution. Yamal, who only turned 16 this summer, has been compared to Messi by segments of the Spanish media after a handful of sparkling LaLiga performances. Makelele believes such comparisons risk suffocating the youngster before he has even started shaving. “The boy is fearless,” he admitted, “but the Ballon d’Or asks for more than moments— it asks for seasons.”

Pressure management: a lesson from Claude Makelele’s era

During Real Madrid’s early-2000s heyday, Claude Makelele played alongside global superstars who routinely attracted intense headlines. He remembers how even established names like Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo took years to hit their peak votes. For that reason, the former France international argues Lamine Yamal needs a protective bubble rather than a trophy countdown. “Give him time, let him fail, let him succeed,” Makelele said. “If he is still decisive at 20, the trophy talk will follow naturally.”

Dembele’s revival in Paris

Ousmane Dembélé’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last summer was met with scepticism after an injury-blighted spell in Catalonia. However, Claude Makelele sees the transfer as the winger’s turning point. Freed from the tactical straight-jacket of Xavi’s possession-heavy system, Dembélé now operates in a front line designed for rapid transitions—perfect for his explosive dribbling. Statistical models already credit him with more progressive carries and expected assists in Ligue 1 than he produced in any single season at Barça. Makelele insists a deep Champions League run could catapult those numbers into Ballon d’Or territory.

The importance of narrative in Ballon d’Or voting

Claude Makelele repeatedly returned to the role of storylines in individual awards. He cited Luka Modrić’s triumph in 2018, built on Croatia’s World Cup fairy-tale, as proof that voters crave a narrative arc. Dembélé, he argued, is on the cusp of a redemption story: a player once labelled “injury-prone” who inspires PSG’s first Champions League crown. Conversely, Yamal’s tale is only on chapter one. “Football history rewards the full novel,” Makelele quipped.

Barcelona’s developmental dilemma

Inside Barça’s La Masia corridors, coaches are torn between letting Lamine Yamal express himself and shielding him from burnout. Claude Makelele sympathises, remembering how early hype around Real Madrid prospect Robinho fizzled when the Brazilian was asked to deliver every three days. He cautions the Blaugrana against overloading the teenager in both domestic and European fixtures, especially as Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is already tempted to fast-track Yamal into senior international duty.

Claude Makelele and the evolving definition of midfield excellence

The conversation inevitably shifted to modern midfield roles. Claude Makelele, whose name became synonymous with the “Makelele role,” joked that today he might cost a club “half a billion” given the recent transfer inflation. Yet he also admitted the Ballon d’Or rarely recognises pure defensive midfielders—receiving only 11th place in 2005 despite Madrid’s league title. That experience shapes his empathy toward players overshadowed by attacking colleagues, another reason he roots for Dembélé: “Wingers often need louder numbers to be heard.”

Numbers behind the debate

• Dembélé 2023/24 (all comps): 8 goals, 13 assists, 37 chances created

• Yamal 2023/24 (all comps): 4 goals, 7 assists, 22 chances created

• Average age of recent first-time Ballon d’Or winners: 24.6

Claude Makelele emphasised that statistics form only part of the equation, yet they illustrate why he leans toward the French winger for immediate recognition. If Barcelona’s starlet continues at his current trajectory, the numbers may look very different in three years’ time.

What next for Yamal and Dembélé?

With crucial Champions League knockout rounds looming, both players have opportunities to strengthen their cases. Claude Makelele will watch closely, yet he reiterates that silverware usually tilts the scales. PSG top their Ligue 1 group and have a favourable last-16 draw, while Barcelona, still re-establishing themselves under Xavi, face a more treacherous path. Makelele’s parting message to Yamal: “Collect experiences, not headlines.”

Opinion: Patience over prophecy

From this writer’s viewpoint, Claude Makelele’s words provide a necessary counterbalance to the hype machine. Football fans adore an early coronation, but greatness matures at its own pace. If Ousmane Dembélé finally strings together a full, healthy campaign, the Ballon d’Or debate will be more than justified. Equally, if Lamine Yamal keeps learning rather than merely trending, his day on the podium will arrive in due course. Until then, celebrating each player’s unique journey is wiser than forcing premature comparisons.