Former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit has tipped PSG’s teenager Désiré Doué as a future recipient of football’s most prestigious individual award.
Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony on April 21, the Dutch legend, who claimed the award in 1987, was asked by Spanish outlet NEKO Deportes which young players beyond Lamine Yamal could win the Ballon d’Or in coming years.
“Oh… That’s a difficult question. I really like Doué, from PSG. He’s young too, it could be him,” Gullit said of the 19-year-old midfielder who was 18 years after Gullit’s own Ballon d’Or win.
Doué joined PSG last summer from Rennes on a five-year contract for approximately €50 million ($56.9m).
Since joining PSG from Rennes, Désiré Doué has become central to the club’s youth movement. The 19-year-old midfielder has recorded 6 goals and 6 assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
😳🔥 Ruud Gullit se moja sobre el posible futuro Balón de Oro
⭐️ “Me gusta Doué, del PSG. Es un gran jugador joven, podría ser uno”
🎙️ @AndresSSDL 📽️ @sergiomoolinaa pic.twitter.com/ZO7yDB9v65
— NEKO Deportes (@NEKODeportes) April 22, 2025
Ruud Gullit is impressed by PSG’s transformation
The Dutch icon, who won the World Soccer Player of the Year award in both 1987 and 1989, praised PSG’s transformation into an exciting young team.
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Doué is among six players aged 22 or under making contributions in PSG’s Champions League campaign this season.
“I love Doué, Barcola and Vitinha! He played for Wolves and wasn’t good enough for them and now he’s the best player at PSG… Sometimes you see such fantastic things,” Gullit told Le Parisien.
“It’s beautiful to see Dembélé. He’s found a new position. He was always on the right, he’s in the center and scores a lot of goals. It’s nice, Paris is the team everyone wants to see,” Gullit added.
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