Sofia Quijada
The Ballon d’Or is football’s most prestigious individual award, given to the player who combines individual brilliance, team success, and season-long consistency. In recent years, winners like Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema have paired elite stats with major silverware.
This year, much of the spotlight has fallen on Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage sensation, who dazzled fans with flair, maturity, and match-winning ability at just 17. Yet despite his remarkable rise, there are three key reasons why he is unlikely to lift the Golden Ball in 2025.
1. No Champions League or Nations League Titles
The Champions League remains the most influential factor in Ballon d’Or voting. While Yamal starred in Barça’s run to the semi-finals, he could not go all the way. Meanwhile, his international campaign also fell short as Spain lost to Portugal in the Nations League final.
By contrast, competitors like Ousmane Dembélé made decisive contributions in Europe, giving them a stronger case for the award.
2. Trophy Haul and Stats Favour Dembélé
Yamal’s collection of a La Liga title and Copa del Rey is impressive but pales in comparison to Dembélé’s campaign at PSG, where he added Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and a deeper Champions League impact.
2024/25Spain
Barcelona
Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid
The numbers reinforce this: Yamal produced 18 goals and 25 assists, while Dembélé racked up 35 goals and 16 assists. In the Champions League, Dembélé managed 14 goal involvements to Yamal’s nine — a difference that voters will notice.
3. Absence from the FIFA Club World Cup
While not the most prestigious tournament, the FIFA Club World Cup provides a global stage where standout performances stick in voters’ minds. Dembélé played a role in PSG’s run to the final, adding another headline moment to his year. Yamal and Barcelona were absent, leaving him without another chance to showcase himself in a major spotlight.
Final Word
Lamine Yamal is the future — few doubt that. His breakout season at just 18 is extraordinary, and his trajectory points toward eventual Ballon d’Or glory. But in 2025, the combination of missing trophies, comparative stats, and fewer marquee showcases means this is not yet his year.
Yamal’s time will come — but for now, the Ballon d’Or belongs to players who married brilliance with silverware.