Yamal's Father: 'This is an unbearable moral pain'

Lamine Yamal's father voiced his anger following his son's loss of the 2025 Ballon d'Or title.

The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony concluded with Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) taking the award, but the event's aftermath continues. Alongside the French star's joy, controversies erupted regarding Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's young talent, who finished as runner-up in the voting.

Speaking to the media, Mounir Nasraoui, Lamine Yamal's father, couldn't hide his disappointment. He stated that the result caused severe emotional damage to his son: “This is not a robbery, I won’t use that word. But I believe this is an extreme moral agony for a human being.”

Furthermore, Mr. Nasraoui strongly asserted that his son deserved to be honored: “Lamine is the best player in the world, clearly far ahead of the others by a wide margin. Not just because he’s my son, but because he truly is the world's finest player. I don’t think he has any rivals.”

This statement immediately sparked lively debates on social media. Many Barcelona fans agreed, believing Lamine deserved the award after an explosive season, making a significant impact on the Catalan club's journey. Meanwhile, some neutral supporters felt that at 18 years old, securing second place and winning the Kopa Trophy for the best young player worldwide was already an extraordinary achievement.

During the 2024/25 season, Lamine Yamal was regarded as a brilliant highlight in Barcelona's lineup. Born in 2008, he played with maturity, speed, and exquisite technique, greatly contributing to Barca's capture of important domestic titles. Given this performance, many experts believe his placing in the Ballon d'Or top 2 marks a crucial stepping stone toward a bright future.

However, Dembele, who once played for Barcelona and won the award, was considered deserving by experts due to his flawless season with PSG, notably winning the Champions League. The outstanding team achievement was the key factor that helped him narrowly beat Yamal in the race.

Nevertheless, Mr. Nasraoui’s remarks reflect the absolute faith that the family and Barcelona fans have in this football prodigy. At 18, time is still on Lamine Yamal’s side, giving him many more chances to claim the Ballon d'Or in the future.