Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele were two of the standout forwards last season, making their names contenders in discussions around the 2025 Ballon d’Or. However, Liverpool legend Michael Owen, who won the prestigious award in 2001, does not believe either player is currently the world’s best forward.

Today, the former striker—who also played for Real Madrid and Manchester United, among other clubs—has a clear pick for the top player. For Owen, it’s not Yamal or Dembele, but Kylian Mbappe who stands out as the best forward in the world right now.

“For me, he’s the best in the world,” Owen said during an appearance on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast. “There are efficient center-forwards like Kane, Lewandowski, or Haaland who will always score goals, but in the biggest games, under the most pressu

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