Dembele is among the favourites to claim the coveted accolade, having helped PSG win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and UEFA Champions League in 2024-2025.

The Frenchman scored 33 goals and provided 13 assists for PSG last term.

Among all players from Europe's top five leagues, only Mohamed Salah (57), Raphinha (56), Harry Kane (49) and Kylian Mbappe (48) bettered Dembele's 46 total goal involvements.

He registered 14 of those goal involvements in the UEFA Champions League, scoring eight and assisting six. No PSG player has ever had more in a single campaign.

While Dembele insists his focus is on the team, who are competing at the FIFA Club World Cup, he admitted he has thought about the Ballon d'Or.

"I'm thinking about [the Ballon d'Or]," he said.

"I know that, with the season that I have had, I am not far [from the Ballon d'Or], but I am focused on the [team] objectives, before thinking about myself."

Bradley Barcola also impressed for PSG last term and came off the bench to assist the final goal in its 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final.

There have been reports suggesting Barcola could leave PSG in the transfer window, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich interested, but Luis Enrique is determined to keep him in the French capital.

"I have no doubt that he'll stay our player," Luis Enrique said.

"We like the fact that our players are interesting other clubs. But he's one of those young players that we've been banking on. I expect him to play here for many more years."