Ousmane Dembele has identified Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza as a potential future Ballon d’Or winner, sparking speculation about the young Algeria international’s long-term prospects.

The prediction came after Monday’s ceremony in London, where football’s leading individual award was presented for the 70th time. Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, finished seventh in the 2026 voting, with Harry Kane taking over as the new holder of the prize.

Following the event, the France international responded to a series of photographs shared on Instagram by Maza. The 20-year-old posted images of himself alone on the red carpet, alongside his agents Walid Bouzid and Rafael Kazior, and finally with Dembele.

In his comment, the Paris Saint-Germain forward tipped the midfielder, who is eight years younger than him, to reach the highest individual honour in the game.

The message was widely reported by Algerian media and quickly prompted discussion about whether PSG could eventually make an approach for Maza. Some observers interpreted Dembele’s intervention as an attempt to encourage the attacking midfielder to join the Paris club.

Maza is under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until June 2030 and is regarded as one of the most promising players in his position. His progress was recognised at the 2026 Kopa Trophy, where he finished ninth in the award for the best player aged under 21 during the previous season.

Maza’s rapid progress at Bayer Leverkusen

Born in Berlin, Maza scored five goals and provided seven assists in 44 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen last season, starting 32 of those matches.

He has already made a strong contribution during the current campaign. The midfielder has registered three goals and three assists in 10 appearances, with nine of those matches coming as a starter.

Maza has also established himself on the international stage with Algeria, for whom he has won 24 caps and scored three goals.

Dembele’s prediction places further attention on a player whose performances have already earned recognition among Europe’s emerging talents. His current contract means Bayer Leverkusen retain his services until 2030, while the public endorsement from the reigning Ballon d’Or winner has added to interest surrounding his future.