Yamal’s father predicts he will win the next edition as Dembélé beat him to the 2025 Ballon d’Or
PSG standout Ousmane Dembélé has won the 2025 Ballon d’Or over Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal. Dembélé emerged as the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or following a remarkable 2024–25 season with PSG.
The French winger was pivotal in the club’s historic treble, helping secure the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France.
Dembélé’s stats speak volumes: 35 goals and 16 assists across 53 appearances. More crucially, he delivered when it mattered most, cementing his claim as the leading candidate for football’s most prestigious individual award.
During his acceptance speech, the PSG standout wanted to focus on the club president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who played a major role in his life after arriving from Barcelona.
“I wanted to thank PSG, who came to get me in 2023,” Dembélé said while accepting the award. “The president, the whole club. It’s a family. […] The president has been exceptional to work with! He’s like a dad to me! Just like Luis Enrique! He has been a very important person!”
The main competition for Dembélé this year was Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Last season, he played a pivotal role for the Spanish side, racking up 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches, and helping the team secure titles in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España, establishing himself as a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or.
Despite his son not winning the award, Yamal’s father had a brief message to the media.
“Next year is ours,” he said.
The Ballon d’Or for 2026 will factor not only what players do at the club level, but it’s a World Cup year too. If Yamal helps lead Spain to win that trophy, he’s the odds-on favourite to win it next year.
Ballon d’Or 2025 winners full list
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2025 Winner
Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Ballon d’Or
.Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
Men’s Yashin Trophy 2025 winner (Best Goalkeeper)
1 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City)
Women’s Yashin Trophy Winner 2025
- Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea)
Men’s Kopa Trophy 2025 Winner (Best U21 Player)
- Kenan Yıldız (Türkiye, Juventus)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Women’s Kopa Trophy 2025 Winner
Vicky López (Spain, Barcelona)
.Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy 2025 Winner (Best Coach)
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy 2025 Winner
Sarina Wiegman (England national team)
Men’s Club of the Year 2025 Winner
PSG.
Women’s Club of the Year 2025 Winner
Arsenal.
Gerd Müller Trophy 2025 Trophy Winners
Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, Sporting CP/Arsenal) and Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona)
Sócrates Award 2025 Winner
The Xana Foundation won the Sócrates Award.
