Dembélé Ballon d’Or: Lamine Yamal turns defeat into ambition

While Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint‑Germain captured the 2025 Ballon d’Or with 1 380 points, the young winger of FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, turned his second‑place of 321 points (1 059) into palpable motivation, stating he feels no frustration.

With 1 380 points, the Paris Saint‑Germain player outscored Yamal by 321 points, i.e., 1 059 in the ranking. The Barça winger quickly recovered from this setback.

“It was my second ceremony, and being there with a chance to win against Ousmane was already a dream,” Yamal told France Football. He highlighted that Dembélé deserved the victory after a season crowned by a Champions League title.

Dembélé celebrates his Ballon d’Or modestly, Mbappé retorts

Yamal insists he has never felt frustration, seeing it as an achievement. At eighteen, he finished second, which, he says, drives him to give everything every subsequent season.

Ballon d’Or 2026: Yamal among the favourites

For the 2026 edition, Lamine Yamal is back among the favourites for the individual trophy. Ousmane Dembélé remains a candidate, but is now considered an outsider.

Observers believe Harry Kane has the best chances of preventing the Barça’s number ten from clinching his first Ballon d’Or, unless Kylian Mbappé’s campaign changes the equation.