France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying "considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him".
Didier Deschamps expects the Paris St Germain players to be ready after their Champions League success when France take on Spain in the Nations League semifinals, with the manager also backing Ousmane Dembele for the Ballon d'Or.
Yamal and Dembele have been crucial for club and country this season and the prestigious golden ball trophy could end up with one of them in September during the ceremony in Paris.
The nominees will be announced in early August.
The Egyptian superstar, 32, is favourite to win the award, regarded as the top individual prize in football, after a sensational campaign so far.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti vehemently defended his sides’ decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or award ceremony last year in protest of Vinicius Jr’s snub and said that Rodri, who edged out Vinicius for the award, should have won the prize a year earlier instead of Lionel Messi.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri took the prestigious prize in October with favourite Vinicius in second place
“Why would it hurt me? It was my moment, to enjoy with my family. The last thing I’d be thinking about is people who weren’t there, and didn’t want to participate,” Rodri said in an interview with COPE radio.
It was revealed that five of the 99 journalists who voted for this year’s Ballon d’Or left eventual winner Rodri out of their top 10 list while three journos did not have Vinicius Junior, who came second after the Spanish midfielder, in the top 10 of their ballot.
Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan believes superstar forward Lionel Messi is "a miracle from God".
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is targeting an unprecedented fifth Ballon d'Or award in Zurich, with the Argentine heavily favoured to reclaim the prize from three-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has credited Diego Maradona with being his biggest influence starting a career in football.
The winter window gets closer with each passing day and the transfer rumour mill is starting to pick up steam. Here’s the latest and greatest from Europe’s top football leagues.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to decide which lady to pick, while he claims it is not easy being pursued by girls only interested in him because of his fame.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was sad about the club's 3-2 loss to Sevilla but didn't let it affect his mood for the world premiere of "Ronaldo" the documentary about his life.
Injured Barcelona star Lionel Messi has failed to rule out leaving the Treble winners in the future, and has denied he is in competition with Ballon d'Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.
