Paris Saint-Germain were crowned UEFA Champions League winners on Saturday, a triumph that has placed Ousmane Dembele at the forefront of the Ballon d’Or conversation. The French winger’s stellar season has made him a top candidate, but many have overlooked the remarkable campaign of Barcelona‘s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal, who was eliminated earlier in the tournament by Inter Milan.
In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Yamal offered a compelling perspective on how the Ballon d’Or should be decided. “Everyone sees it their own way. I’m hoping we win [against France] on Thursday. But whether we win or not, I’d vote for the best player of the year,” he stated.
He added, “Because 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… let’s play that game then.”
Yamal’s comments echo a sentiment held by many analysts: the Ballon d’Or should reward consistency and year-long excellence rather than a single defining moment. While winning the Champions League final is arguably the pinnacle of the club season, it shouldn’t automatically determine the award winner. If that were the case, players like Desire Doue would also be in the running.
Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain.
Dembele’s candidacy, however, is rooted in more than just the final match. He was consistently PSG’s standout performer throughout the season, giving him an edge over players like Yamal or Raphinha, who didn’t make it to the UCL final. That edge may ultimately prove decisive in the Ballon d’Or vote.
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Yamal shuts down Real Madrid rumors
During the same interview, Yamal was also asked about the possibility of joining Real Madrid someday—a question he answered without hesitation. “Playing for Real Madrid one day? No chance, that’s absolutely impossible,” Yamal said. “No way for that… Barcelona is the club of my life.”
Given his lifelong connection to the Catalan club and his development through La Masia, a switch to Madrid would be seen as a betrayal on the level of Luis Figo’s controversial transfer—a move that rocked the soccer world.
What fuels Lamine Yamal
Despite his youth, Yamal has already shown the poise and performance level of a world-class player. He continues to shine in key moments, and he recently revealed an unusual source of motivation: his friends.
“My friends send me negative TikTok videos 20 minutes before matches because they know that motivates me,” Yamal said. He pointed to the Euro 2024 semifinal against France as an example. “I was asleep on the bus, and my friend called me and said, ‘Remember what Rabiot said to you.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I remember.’”
