Lamine Yamal’s father has branded Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or win the “greatest moral harm” in football, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward walking away with a prestigious Golden Ball in 2025. Barcelona wonderkid Yamal had to settle for a runner-up finish despite those in Catalunya being of the opinion that the 18-year-old is undoubtedly “the best player in the world”.
Top awards handed out at ceremony in Paris
The global elite descended on Theatre du Chatelet in Paris for a glitzy ceremony that honoured the great and good of the men’s and women’s game – with top teams, coaches, goalkeepers and young players landing major prizes.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALYamal won Kopa Trophy for a second time
Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for a second successive year, with the teen sensation continuing to enjoy a meteoric rise, but PSG forward Dembele walked away with the ultimate prize and etched his name into the history books.
Future Ballon d'Or winner: Time on Yamal's side
Time is still very much on Yamal’s side when it comes to collecting a Ballon d’Or of his own, with some having already tipped him to better Lionel Messi’s record-shattering haul of eight Golden Balls.
GOALYamal's father reacts to Dembele's Ballon d'Or win
Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, told of his son being overlooked on this occasion: “I think this is the greatest harm, I wouldn't say theft, but moral harm caused to a human being, because I believe that Lamine Yamal is by far the best player in the world, and by far the one who makes a lot of difference. Not because he's my son, but because he's the best player in the world. I think there is no rival, Lamine Yamal is Lamine Yamal. It must be said that something very strange has happened here. Greetings to all of Spain, and next year it will be a Spanish ball.”
