FC Barcelona legend Ronaldinho reveals who he thinks is the best soccer player today

For countless players, Ronaldinho was the inspiration to pursue soccer. The Brazilian is widely regarded as one of the most talented and technically gifted players ever to grace the field. A 2005 Ballon d’Or winner and an FC Barcelona legend, his highlight reel remains one of the most iconic in soccer history. But as he says, players like him are increasingly rare in today’s game—or maybe not entirely.

In an interview with L’Équipe, Ronaldinho identified a player he believes is the best in the world today and whose style reminds him of his own playing days. That player is none other than PSG’s standout forward, Ousmane Dembélé.

“I don’t like comparing myself to anyone, but I watch a lot of the teams I played for, and Ousmane Dembélé, at PSG, I like him a lot,” said Ronaldinho, who made 77 appearances for the French club between 2003 and 2008. “He has a Brazilian style, he’s unpredictable, inventive, and provocative. Sometimes he’s indecipherable, and on top of that, he scores a lot of goals,” he added.

“He’s breaking out in a different role than he had at PSG last year or at Barcelona,” Ronaldinho noted, emphasizing how Dembélé has stepped out of the shadows of stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to become PSG’s leading figure.

Ousmane Dembele during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League match between PSG and Liverpool FC. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Dembélé’s career-best season

PSG recently clinched another Ligue 1 title with eight matches to spare, allowing the team to focus entirely on their Champions League quarterfinal clash against Aston Villa. A significant part of PSG’s success this season has been due to Ousmane Dembélé’s exceptional form.

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The French winger has racked up 21 goals and six assists in 26 Ligue 1 matches, alongside seven goals and one assist in the Champions League. He’s added three goals and an assist in the Coupe de France and another goal in the Trophée des Champions. Altogether, Dembélé has contributed directly to 40 goals (32G/8A) in 40 matches this season—the best output of his career.

Ronaldinho predicts Lamine Yamal as the next Ballon d’Or winner

In the same interview, Ronaldinho heaped praise on 17-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal. The young Spaniard has been a revelation for the Catalan club, tallying 13 goals and 19 assists in 42 appearances across La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League—competitions where Barcelona remains a top contender.

“He’s an early talent. I also love watching him for his ability to invent,” Ronaldinho said. “He needs to confirm over time that he’s doing good work. He’ll be a huge star. The next Ballon d’Or winner, for sure,” added the Brazilian, who claimed the prestigious award himself in 2005.