Portugal left-back Nuno Mendes has thrown his support behind France’s Ousmane Dembélé to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Speaking to reporters following Portugal’s victory over Spain in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday, Mendes—who faced another Ballon d’Or contender, Lamine Yamal, during the match in Munich—not only neutralized the young star but also scored his team’s equalizer.
Despite Yamal’s standout season, Mendes is backing his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Dembélé for the award.
“The Ballon d’Or? I play with Ousmane [Dembélé] and he had an incredible season. Lamine did too, but Ousmane will be playing in the Club World Cup, unlike Lamine, so I’m very happy for him,” Mendes said.
He highlighted Dembélé’s resilience after past injury struggles at Barcelona and praised his talent and character.
“He’s an exceptional player and a great person. I truly admire him. I wish him all the best for the Ballon d’Or, and the rest of us on the team will support him to achieve it,” he added.