Although he lost out to Ousmane Dembélé and missed out on this year's Ballon d'Or, Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal himself did not sink into low spirits. Instead, he displayed maturity beyond his years and firmly believes that his moment to claim the award will eventually come in the future.
During his trip back to Barcelona from Paris, Yamal maintained a positive attitude throughout. While he was certainly eager to win the award, he showed exceptional sportsmanship the entire time. He fully respected Dembélé’s victory and returned to his club with high spirits.
Yamal clearly recognizes that Dembélé not only delivered a standout personal performance this season but also led his team to important collective honors—an achievement that makes the award well-deserved. However, deep down, he firmly believes that one day the Ballon d'Or will bear his name. At just 18 years old, he has boundless potential, and there is no need for him to rush.
It can be said that throughout the entire process, Yamal did not show any sign of negative emotions and always maintained great respect for Dembélé. In return, Dembélé also fully acknowledged this talented young prodigy, and a healthy competitive relationship was evident between the two.
At the 2025 Ballon d'Or award ceremony, Parisian striker Dembélé successfully claimed the top honor, while Barcelona’s rising star Yamal finished as the runner-up.
