Lamine Yamal has admitted he genuinely believed he was about to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
The Barcelona teenager arrived at the ceremony as one of the overwhelming favourites after a sensational season, but ultimately watched former teammate and close friend Ousmane Dembele walk away with football’s biggest individual prize.
For many players, especially as young as 18, such a setback could have been difficult to process. But Yamal says missing out may have come at exactly the right stage of his career.
“To be honest, I thought I was going to win it that day, but because of a lot of things that happened,” Yamal revealed on his YouTube channel.
Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, the Spanish star believes the outcome helped him grow both on and
off the pitch.
“I think it was really good for me that Dembele won it,” he added.
“For my personal growth, I don’t think it was the right time for me to win it because I was just a kid and I wasn’t going to appreciate what it means to win a Ballon d’Or.”
Dembele’s Support Behind The Scenes
Yamal also highlighted the role Dembele played during a difficult period in his life, revealing the French winger helped him regain confidence when he was struggling.
“Besides, I get along really well with Dembele. I’ve gone out with him, we’ve spent a lot of time together and talked a lot,” Yamal said.
“He called me the other day, asked how I was, and he helped me grow a lot personally.
“He helped me get back on my feet because I wasn’t in a good place, and I think I’ve matured a lot since then and changed a lot of things in my life.”
The Barcelona winger added that seeing Dembele lift the award was a moment he genuinely celebrated.
“I was really happy for Ous. We were in Dubai, we seem to get along really well, and we talk from time to time.”
World Cup Could Change Everything
Despite missing out on the Ballon d’Or, Yamal enjoyed another remarkable campaign, scoring 24 goals and providing 18 assists in 45 appearances for Barcelona.
However, Barcelona’s failure to win the UEFA Champions League likely hurt his chances in the final voting.
Now, attention turns to the FIFA World Cup, where Yamal could reignite his Ballon d’Or ambitions.
“Let’s see if this is my year,” he said.
