BALLON D'OR 2025
Lamine Yamal emerges as a strong favorite for the 2025 Ballon d'Or
Published:6/06/2025 - 10:00h
Updated:6/06/2025 - 10:00h
The young Barça winger leads Spain with a double in the Nations League semi-final and surpasses Dembélé in a direct duel for the Ballon d'Or
Lamine Yamal, at just 17 years old, delivered a stellar performance in Spain's victory over France (5-4) in the UEFA Nations League semi-final. With a double, he surpassed Ousmane Dembélé in a direct duel between Ballon d'Or contenders and led 'La Roja' to a new international final, to be played this Sunday against Portugal in Munich.
The FC Barcelona forward was not only decisive on the scoreboard, but also in the narrative of current European football: young, talented and decisive. His performance against a powerhouse like France places him at the center of the debate for the highest individual award in world football.
Lamine Yamal's Exhibition in Stuttgart: Two Goals and MVP
Spain and France revived their historic rivalry at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, with a place in the Nations League final at stake. Luis de la Fuente's team surprised with an offensive and daring version, led by a Lamine Yamal who did not feel the weight of the stage or the opponent's entity.
With two goals and a penalty won, he was chosen as the Best Player of the match for his decisive performance against figures such as Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, his main rival in the race for the Ballon d'Or.
The first of his goals came from the penalty spot, after a generous pass from his teammate Nico Williams. The second, much more elaborate, culminated a collective play with an assist from Pedro Porro. It was his sixth goal with the senior national team —three of them against France— in just 14 international matches.
On an emotional level, Yamal once again confirmed his competitive character. “I left the fear in the Mataró park”, he said recently, and his performance in Germany was a declaration of principles.
Direct Duel for the Ballon d'Or: Lamine Yamal Surpasses Dembélé
One of the great focuses of the match was on the confrontation between Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, PSG winger and the Barça player's main competitor in the race for the Ballon d'Or 2025. While the Frenchman had a lackluster performance —he was substituted in the 76th minute and did not directly participate in any goal—, the Barça player shone brightly.
The numbers also speak for themselves: Yamal has scored 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches this season, with titles such as La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.
For his part, Dembélé has 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 matches, and has a historic treble (Ligue 1, Cup and Champions League) under the direction of Luis Enrique. However, the specific weight of performances in key matches —such as the one in Stuttgart— may be decisive in the final Ballon d'Or vote.
Lamine vs Dembélé: How the Race for the Ballon d'Or Stands
In the head-to-head, Dembélé won one more title than Lamine, the Champions League. Both lifted the domestic treble with their clubs (League, Cup and Super Cup), although the 'Mosquito' only scored in the Super Cup final (1-0 against Monaco).
Lamine, on the other hand, stirred the net in the Copa (3-2) and Super Cup (5-2) Clásicos against Real Madrid. He also did his homework in the two league matches against the 'merengues', while in the Champions League, the Frenchman took advantage of the 'play off' prior to the round of 16 to improve his records.
| Indicator | Lamine Yamal | Ousmane Dembélé |
|---|---|---|
| Matches played | 56 | 50 |
| Minutes played | 4.643 | 3.380 |
| Goals | 20 | 33 |
| Assists | 23 | 15 |
| Titles | 3 | 4 |
In the tie against Brest (10-0 on aggregate for PSG), the 'Mosquito' scored a couple of goals in the first leg. Finally he closed the tournament with 8 goals and 5 assists (2 in the final against Inter), while Yamal added 5 goals and 4 assists in 13 appearances in the tournament.
Ousmane closed 24/25 as Pichichi of Paris, with 33 goals, taking advantage of Luis Enrique's decision to line him up as a 'false 9'/attacking midfielder, while Lamine was co-leader in assists for Barça, along with Raphinha, with 23 goal passes. The Mataró native participated in 43 goals, while the Vernon native produced 48 goals in the course.
On Sunday, Another Trial by Fire: The Final Against Cristiano's Portugal
The Nations League offers a perfect platform to consolidate candidacies for the Ballon d'Or. Spain will face Portugal this Sunday in Munich, in a final that pits two generations against each other: the legend of Cristiano Ronaldo against the promise of Lamine Yamal.
If the Barça player manages to lift the trophy with another outstanding performance, his candidacy will go from promise to real threat for any consolidated star. The season is not over yet, but Lamine Yamal has already made it clear that he has arrived to stay... and to win.