Okay, let me get the elephant out of the room before it starts stomping on anyone’s toes: Lamine Yamal is a generational talent.
The Barcelona wonderkid has already proven his worth on the biggest stages,
and he’s barely scratched the surface of what he could become. That’s not up for debate.
Now that we’ve settled that, here’s what I (and plenty of others) wholeheartedly believe: Ousmane Dembele fully deserved to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
What Really Makes a Ballon d’Or Winner?
The problem is, nobody seems to know exactly what criteria matter most. Is it individual brilliance? Is it team success? Or is it some murky cocktail of both, judged through the ever-shifting lens of football’s mood that year?
Fine. Let’s check all the usual boxes. Goals, assists, trophies…oh wait, Dembele trumps Yamal overall.
No need to get your knickers twisted — I’m just stating facts.
Let’s break it down. Dembele outscored Yamal, while Yamal edged him on assists by one. But when the lights were brightest, it was the Frenchman — with the help of his equally impressive PSG teammates — who delivered the ultimate prize: the UEFA Champions League. PSG’s first-ever, no less.
History is kind to those who help make more of it, as much as we sometimes hate to admit it.
The “Spirit of the Game”
Of course, someone will say, “Football isn’t just numbers and trophies. It’s about the spirit of the beautiful game.”
And honestly, I agree. My arguments so far might suggest otherwise, but I truly do believe football is more than stats. Joga Bonito.
Which brings me to the point I really want to make: the Ballon d’Or is still suffering from a hangover — the lingering ghost of the Messi-Ronaldo era.
Hungover From Greatness
For 15 years, two men distorted our perception of what “best in the world” looked like. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo set impossible standards, splitting an unfathomable THIRTEEN Ballon d’Ors between them. All this, in just FIFTEEN years.
We were undeniably spoiled by their relentless heroics, and now, anyone who comes after feels… for lack of a better word, underwhelming
But that doesn’t mean today’s stars are undeserving. It just means we’re guilty of reminiscing and being trapped by nostalgia, forever comparing modern brilliance to an era that can’t be repeated.
And it’s not like deserving players weren’t overlooked back then, either. Franck Ribery in 2013. Robert Lewandowski in 2020. We’ve been here before. The difference is, we didn’t start claiming “moral damage to a human being” when they lost out. (Dads, am I right?)
Why Only Yamal?
Which raises the question: why all the fuss over Yamal?
If this was really about influence, artistry, and embodying the essence of football, then where was Raphinha in the conversation? His numbers stack up more than respectably amongst the top two, and he was arguably Barcelona’s heartbeat last season. Yet he barely made a ripple in the rankings, as he was forced to languish in fifth place.
Or what about Mo Salah, who was arguably the best player in the “toughest league” in the world? Well, only worth a fourth-place finish, I guess.
The truth is, the Ballon d’Or has always been selective in its appreciation. Goalkeepers, defenders, midfield generals — their contributions rarely translate into the glamorous and share-worthy stats that catch voters’ eyes. The award has never truly been about “the best player in the world.”
So why suddenly act shocked when the same flawed logic applies to Yamal?
Redefining the Lens
The bigger issue is that our lens for judging greatness hasn’t evolved. Or rather, it has, but perhaps not in the way we would like for it to have changed.
We still act as if the Messi-Ronaldo rubric applies, when in reality the game has shifted.
The Ballon d’Or is less about perfection and more about narrative. It’s about moments that tilt history — like Dembele powering PSG to their first Champions League title. It’s about standing tall when everything is on the line. It’s about (like I’d said before) adding to history.
By that measure, Dembele wasn’t just a worthy winner. He was the winner.
The Mic Drop (Finally)
So, to everyone up in arms about Yamal being “robbed,” I urge you to expand your view of the game. Appreciate the award for what it is: imperfect, biased, sometimes controversial, yet coveted nonetheless.
Yamal’s time will come. His talent is undeniable, his trajectory unstoppable. But this year belonged to Dembele.
And for the love of football, put some respect on Ousmane Dembele’s name.