Dembele expressed heartfelt words for Lamine Yamal after winning the Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembele secured victory ahead of the young talent Lamine Yamal in the 2025 Ballon d'Or competition.

Ousmane Dembele became the first French player since Karim Benzema (2022) to win the Ballon d'Or. At the award ceremony held in Paris, the Barcelona star surpassed two young players, Lamine Yamal and Vitinha, to claim the title, concluding an impressive season both at club and international levels.

In his acceptance speech, Dembele did not forget to mention Benzema, who was once dubbed “The Ballon d'Or of the French people”. He humbly considered himself the second to carry on this legacy. At the same time, Dembele sent a special message to Lamine Yamal, his young teammate at Barcelona, who finished second in this year's race.

“Lamine Yamal is an extraordinary young man, a fantastic player with remarkable maturity. I believe he will win many more Ballon d'Or awards in the future,” Dembele shared sincerely. The two stars also shook hands and took photos together at the gala, showing a friendly relationship, which was rare compared to the tense atmosphere that appeared last year between Vinicius and Rodri.

Although finishing second, Yamal did not leave empty-handed. The 17-year-old talent became the first player to win the Kopa Trophy twice in a row, confirming his status as one of the brightest young stars in the world.

Barcelona players generally had good results in this year's Ballon d'Or voting. However, there was some regret as Raphinha only ranked 5th behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Pedri did not even make the top 10. The women's Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati voiced that Pedri deserves more recognition.

Robert Lewandowski also attended this year's gala, finishing 17th, which might be the Polish striker's last appearance at this prestigious event.

For Barcelona, the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony was not only a place to honor individuals but also an opportunity to reaffirm their position in European football. The Catalan club surely hopes Yamal, Raphinha, and the young stars will continue to shine and possibly recreate a fierce Ballon d'Or competition next year.