Yamal: 'Dembele winning the Ballon d'Or is good for me'

Lamine Yamal admitted he was once convinced he would claim the Ballon d'Or, yet falling short against Ousmane Dembele turned into a crucial milestone that allowed the youngster to grow and refine his game.

Lamine Yamal confessed that he was certain he would win the Ballon d'Or, but his defeat to Ousmane Dembele became a key source of motivation for the Barcelona prodigy to better himself and aim for bigger goals at the 2026 World Cup.

During a recent chat on his personal YouTube channel, Yamal shared his feelings about the latest Ballon d'Or ceremony for the first time. After an explosive season with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, the 2008-born talent believed he was very close to claiming the most prestigious individual award in football. "Honestly, that day I thought I would win,"

However, the name ultimately announced was Ousmane Dembele. Despite the disappointment, the 18-year-old star did not see it as a negative shock. On the contrary, he felt that missing out on the title brought valuable lessons. "I genuinely think that Dembele winning the Ballon d'Or is good for me. It helps me grow more. Perhaps it wasn't the right time for me to receive that award yet."

According to the Barcelona youngster, the setback changed his way of thinking, taught him to handle pressure, and made him more mature both on and off the pitch.

Yamal also recalled the emotions he felt when first participating in a major tournament with the Spanish national team. Despite playing a key role in helping La Roja win EURO 2024, he still couldn't avoid feeling nervous: "When you're a kid, you always feel anxious at big tournaments. But I've learned to stay calmer. A match or a tournament is very long; you always finish better when you know how to be patient."

Besides that, Yamal revealed that Neymar remains his biggest idol. "I will always enjoy watching Neymar play because he's my idol."

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Yamal is seen as Spain's biggest hope. After missing out on the Ballon d'Or, his next goal is to lead La Roja to world glory and become the top contender for the best player of the tournament award.