Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has revealed that he genuinely believed he would be crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner before the award ultimately went to Ousmane Dembélé.
The Spanish winger, who enjoyed a remarkable season with both Barcelona and the national team, spoke candidly about his expectations during a recent interview, admitting that certain events leading up to the ceremony made him confident of victory.
According to Yamal, he was convinced the prestigious individual honour would be his when the winner was announced. However, the outcome turned out differently as Dembélé emerged as the recipient of football’s most coveted personal award.
Despite missing out on the title, the young star said the experience proved valuable and helped him mature both professionally and personally. He acknowledged that Dembélé’s triumph ultimately became a learning moment that contributed positively to his development.
Yamal also reserved special praise for the French forward, highlighting the influence Dembélé has had on him throughout his career. He spoke warmly about the support and inspiration he has drawn from the experienced attacker.
The 18 year old finished second in the final Ballon d’Or rankings, an achievement that further underlined his status as one of football’s brightest young talents. His place among the leading contenders also made him one of the youngest players ever to secure a podium finish in the award’s history.
While the disappointment of narrowly missing out remains, Yamal appears focused on the future. With another important season ahead and the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the Barcelona star is already being tipped as one of the strongest candidates for next year’s Ballon d’Or.
Should he continue his impressive rise and help Spain achieve success on the global stage, many believe the coveted award could soon be within his reach.
