France defender Ibrahima Konaté has tipped his fellow countryman, Ousmane Dembélé, to win the Ballon d’Or.

The 28-year-old attacker had an all-conquering campaign with Luis Enrique’s Les Parisiens. Dembélé, who also won the Champions League for the first time in his career after a restless, eye-catching performance against Inter Milan in the final, has had his best year in football. 

The former Rennes Academy product notably logged two assists against the Nerazzurri, which they demolished 5-0.

Konaté, who filled in for Kylian Mbappé in France’s press conference on the eve of Les Bleus’ Nations League semifinal against Spain in Stuttgart, said the former Barcelona winger is the most deserving winner of the award.

France will square up against European champions Spain in a game that has been touted as a decisive moment for the attribution of the Ballon d’Or. 

This will present Dembélé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal as the world would want to see who triumphs in the battle. 

The Liverpool center-back was adamant the award should be won by his France teammate, adding that many talk about the Barcelona star and Mbappé while neglecting Dembélé, who has delivered an exceptional season.

“I have honestly no other words to describe it. Nobody expected it. I’m the happiest man for him. In all honesty, the most deserving Ballon d’Or winner is Ousmane Dembélé.”

Dembélé is also part of Luis Enrique’s team that had won the quadruple this season, the climax is their first-ever Champions League trophy.

The winger netted 35 goals across all competitions. Probably, if he had not fallen out with Enrique at the beginning of the season that made the Spanish manager leave him out for some games, he could have scored more.

More or less, this has been his best season ever, and he is among the underrated wingers in hot form at the moment.

Now, with France on the international stage, eyes will be on him to help Les Bleus revenge their Euro 2024 semifinal defeat against La Roja as they clash in the UEFA Nations League.