Yamal: ‘I really thought I’d win it’

Lamine Yamal has revealed he genuinely believed he would win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, admitting the expectation was so strong that finishing second initially felt like a shock. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Barcelona forward said he arrived at the ceremony convinced he would be named the world’s best player, only to watch Ousmane Dembélé claim the award. Yamal now views that moment as essential to his growth, explaining that losing helped him mature and understand the value of timing in a footballer’s career.

The teenager had delivered an exceptional season, guiding Barcelona to a domestic treble and reaching the Champions League semi‑finals, but insists he was still too young to fully appreciate such recognition. Instead of dwelling on disappointment, he used the setback as motivation, driving Barcelona to retain La Liga the following year. Looking back, Yamal believes missing out strengthened his ambition and accelerated his development as a leader.