The architect of Paris' Champions League triumph, French striker Ousmane Dembélé is the big favorite for the 69th edition of the Ballon d'Or on Monday evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, ahead of rising FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

For the winner, the vote is much more uncertain, between the best player in the world, Aitana Bonmati, and the English players of Arsenal, Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson.

Did French football only have to wait three years after Karim Benzema's coronation? Ousmane Dembélé, never named among the top 30 until then, and in the shadow of Kylian Mbappé in the eyes of the French public, propelled himself to the top of world football in one season.

With a view to receiving the trophy on Monday evening on the stage of the Théâtre du Châtelet, after having walked the famous red carpet like countless stars, he meets all the election criteria.

First, with victories in the Champions League, the league, and the domestic cup, to the tune of 35 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. Then, with his influence on the game, both in construction and finishing, including pressing.

When it comes to fair play and image, one of the elements to which 100 journalists of all nationalities are attentive, it's hard to do better than Ousmane Dembélé, as respectful on the pitch as he is discreet off it.

- Risk of dispersion -

An aspect that makes the difference with Lamine Yamal, entangled this summer in a scandal involving the hiring of dwarves for a birthday party, and more willingly a joker around matches.

The fact remains that the 18-year-old prodigy (18 goals, 25 assists in all competitions) has made such a strong impression, thanks to his insane technical skills and his vision with the ball, that his name is cited just behind Ousmane Dembélé.

A victory on Monday night by the Champions League semi-finalist and Nations League finalist cannot be completely ruled out. It would constitute a second major upset in a row, following Rodri's controversial victory over Vinicius Jr. last year.

Especially since PSG could suffer from the dispersion of votes, since Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi are considered by many observers to be just as worthy as Ousmane Dembélé of being designated Ballon d'Or.

The French club took this risk very seriously, speaking with one voice on the subject, notably through its coach Luis Enrique, who was nevertheless sparing with individual compliments, and who praised his "humility."

"Ousmane, Ballon d'Or," he sang at a press conference on Saturday.

Even PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi put the pressure on in early July from the United States at the Club World Cup: "If Ousmane doesn't win, there's a problem. He's done everything he can."

French football generally supports Dembélé, like Didier Deschamps - "he deserves it" - and Kylian Mbappé - "I vote for Dembélé".

Weighed down by Real Madrid's mediocre season, Mbappé, for his part, comes in far behind the favorites. He will have consoled himself with the European Golden Shoe, which is awarded for total league goals (weighted by difficulty).

- Two French women among the 30 -

The trophy for best coach should not escape Luis Enrique, architect of a renewed and rejuvenated Parisian team that no one expected to win the Cup with the big ears so soon. Gianluigi Donnarumma should win the Yachine Award for best goalkeeper. And the Raymond Kopa Trophy for best young player should be decided between Lamine Yamal and the other Parisian Désiré Doué (double scorer and assist in the Champions League final).

As for the women's trophy, no favorite stands out.

Double Ballon d'Or winner (2023, 2024) Aitana Bonmati, playmaker for Barça and Spain, remains individually the best player in the world, thanks to her extraordinary playing intelligence and technical finesse.

Voted best player of the Euro and also of the Champions League, she nevertheless lost both finals of these competitions against her biggest rival, the English central defender Leah Williamson, who impresses with her leadership and could prevent her from winning a third consecutive trophy.

But Arsenal's English center-forward Alessia Russo could also cause a surprise, as could Gunners' Spanish striker Mariona Caldentey and two-time Spanish Ballon d'Or winner (2021, 2022) Alexia Putellas.

Among the French women, only strikers Clara Mateo (Paris FC), top scorer in the French league last season, and Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea) are among the 30 finalists.