La Liga President: 'If Yamal Were Over 23, He Would Have Already Won the Ballon d'Or'

La Liga President Javier Tebas thinks Lamine Yamal’s age was the only reason he didn’t win the Ballon d'Or.

La Liga President Javier Tebas said that although Lamine Yamal missed the Ballon d'Or because of his youth, he is confident the Barcelona star will soon claim this prestigious award.

Yamal, who turned 18 in July, finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting on Monday, behind Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele. However, the Barcelona and Spain forward made history by becoming the first player to win the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21, multiple times.

Mr. Tebas commented: “If he were older than 23, I am sure Yamal would have already won the Ballon d'Or. But since he is still young, they gave him the Kopa Trophy.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona President Joan Laporta believes the decisive factor was the Champions League. Dembele, 28, scored 35 goals in 53 matches across all competitions, playing a major role in PSG’s treble win of Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League.

As for Yamal, he scored 18 goals in 55 games, helping Barça win LaLiga, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey, but was eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Inter Milan. Upon receiving the Kopa Trophy, Yamal said: “I have to keep working hard to win more titles in the future.”

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Tebas is confident Yamal will soon win the Ballon d'Or: “If he maintains his current form, which is entirely possible, I believe there’s no doubt he will win the Ballon d'Or.”

Although he hasn’t won the Ballon d'Or yet, Yamal’s journey is rapidly progressing. At just 18, he has proven he can shine at the highest level, combining refined technique, tactical awareness, and a maturity rarely seen.

Fans worldwide believe it’s only a matter of time before Yamal breaks a record standing for over two decades and becomes the youngest Ballon d'Or winner.