"I would give it to the best player of the year" - Lamine Yamal makes stance clear on Ballon d'Or ahead of match vs Ousmane Dembele's France

Lamine Yamal has weighed in on who he thinks should win the Ballon d'Or this year amid calls for PSG star Ousmane Dembele to win the award. Yamal has been in incredible form for Barcelona this season and helped the team win a domestic treble.

The 17-year-old Spaniard also helped his team reach the UEFA Champions League semifinals, where they narrowly lost to Inter Milan.

In a recent discussion with COPE, Yamal weighed in on who he thinks should claim the award in Paris later this year, saying (via Barca Universal):

“I’m not thinking about winning the Ballon d'Or. I think about enjoying myself, playing well and if it has to come, it will come.”

“If you had to give the Ballon d'Or, who would you give it to: the one who wins on Thursday or the best player of the year? I would vote for the best player of the year, but if it is going to be decided on Thursday, we’ll play it on Thursday. I would give it to the best player of the year.”

Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, and Raphinha are among the frontrunners for the award after the trio enjoyed fantastic 2024-25 campaigns at club level. Yamal and Dembele will face each other on Thursday, June 5, representing Spain and France, respectively, in the Nations League semifinals.

Luis Enrique tips Ousmane Dembélé to win Ballon d'Or award

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has tipped Ousmane Dembele to win the Ballon d'Or award for his brilliant performances this season. The Frenchman was a pivotal part of the treble-winning PSG team under the Spaniard this season. He scored 33 goals and provided 15 assists in 49 games across competitions in his sophomore campaign with the Paris-based outfit.

Speaking to the press after his side beat Inter Milan 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League final in Muniche, Luis Enrique said (via FotMob):

"Everyone is concerned about who I would give the Ballon d'Or to. I would give the Ballon d'Or to Ousmane Dembele for the way he defended in this final. That's what you call leading a team. I sincerely believe he deserves the Ballon d`Or, without a doubt, not just for the titles he won or the goals he scored, but for his pressing. He's done it all season, but exceptionally in this final."

Ousmane Dembele provided two assists in the Champions League final and has had an incredible campaign in the continental tournament, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in 15 matches.

About the author

Patrick is a European and international football journalist at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. A Business Administration graduate with a professional experience of 10 years, one of his earliest childhood memories is watching Calabar Rovers play at the U.J. Esuene Stadium with his father, with whom, he connects with, discussing the beautiful game.

Patrick’s favorite team is Manchester United for their unparallelled legacy and success in the game. He is a big admirer of Michael Carrick and his ‘smooth’ style of play back in the days. His favorite manager is Jose Mourinho, who according to him, brought a ‘swagger’ to football with his unique managerial style. Robin van Persie’s title-winning volley against Aston Villa for the 2013 PL triumph is etched in his memory forever.

Patrick always uses trusted outlets that produce accurate, balanced and fair information, and which present multiple point of views. He believes in reporting in a holistic manner for the readers’ benefit. If he could change a football rule, he would increase the number of substitutions allowed due to the high number of games played these days, to reduce injuries and so that youngsters get to show their talent as well.

When not covering football, Patrick loves reading, writing poems and short stories, and spend time with his dog Lana.

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Edited by Arshit Garg