Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has revealed that he genuinely believed he would win the 2025 Ballon d’Or before eventually finishing behind Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé in the final voting.
The Spanish international enjoyed a remarkable year for both club and country, emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in world football. His performances led many fans and pundits to consider him a strong contender for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Reflecting on the award ceremony, Yamal admitted he was convinced the trophy would be his after an extraordinary campaign that saw him establish himself as a key figure for Barcelona and Spain.
However, the teenager has now suggested that missing out on the award may have been beneficial for his development.
According to the winger, winning the Ballon d’Or at such a young age could have come too soon in his career. He believes the experience of falling short has helped him mature both professionally and personally.
Looking back on the outcome, Yamal acknowledged that Dembélé deserved credit for his achievements and said the result allowed him to better understand the significance of the award.
“I thought I was going to win it because of everything that happened during that year,” Yamal said. “But when I look back now, I think it was actually good for me that Dembélé won.”
The 18-year-old explained that he was still very young at the time and may not have fully appreciated the magnitude of becoming a Ballon d’Or winner.
Instead, the disappointment has become a source of motivation as he continues to chase the sport’s highest individual honour.
Yamal’s comments come amid another outstanding season in which he has continued to break records and strengthen his reputation as one of football’s brightest stars. His performances have also placed him among the leading candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or race.
Despite missing out previously, the Barcelona forward remains optimistic about his chances of eventually lifting the famous golden trophy.
With confidence in his abilities and his best years still ahead of him, Yamal believes another opportunity could arrive sooner rather than later.
The Spain international concluded by expressing hope that the upcoming edition of the award could finally be his moment to shine on football’s biggest individual stage.
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