Lamine Yamal Gives Strong Opinion on 2025 Ballon d'Or Race

Lamine Yamal: "I am confident that we [Spain] will win on Thursday, but whether we win or not, I would still vote for the best player in the world. If Thursday doesn’t go the way I want or Dembele wants, then what? You’re voting for someone else who plays on Sunday? I’m the kind of person who votes for the best player over the whole year. But if people want to risk it all on one game, well… we can play that game then."

Lamine Yamal on the Ballon d'Or award

The teenager has amazed many throughout the season, mostly due to his young age at a big club like FC Barcelona. Despite being favored as one of the best players in the world, Yamal admits that he doesn't play to win the Ballon d'Or award.

Yamal has mentioned in the past that his trickery and skills are due to his enjoyment of playing on the pitch. He assures that thinking about winning the prestigious award will only hinder his ability on the pitch. 

Lamine Yamal: "No, honestly, I don’t think about the award. I don’t think about whether I’ll win or not, because I believe thinking that way could hurt me. I just focus on playing, on winning — the rest will follow. That’s why I believe the most important thing is to enjoy playing — the award will come when the time is right.”

Yamal picks his teammate over him

Yamal was asked to pick the best players of the past Champions League season. He named Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) as the best goalkeeper and Willian Pacho (PSG) as the best defender.

He named Pedri and Vitinha (PSG) as the best midfielders of the Champions League, and when he was asked about the best attacker of the competition, he didn't pick himself.

Yamal picked his teammate Raphinha as the best attacker of the tournament. Raphinha finished the Champions League season with 13 goals and eight assists in 14 matches. Both Barcelona players were named in the 2024-25 Champions League Team of the Season.

The Champions League named Ousmane Dembele as the player of the season after the final this past weekend. They also named Desire Doue as the best young player of the Champions League this season.