Key Takeaways:
- Ousmane Dembele claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or following a standout season with Paris Saint-Germain
- Lamine Yamal finished second in the voting, despite strong support from Barcelona and Catalan fans
- Yamal’s father publicly criticised Dembele’s win, declaring it the “greatest moral harm” in football
Contentious Ballon d’Or Decision
Controversy erupted after Ousmane Dembele was awarded the 2025 Ballon d’Or, a decision that has sparked fury within the Barcelona camp. While the Paris Saint-Germain forward collected the esteemed Golden Ball, many in Catalunya, including Lamine Yamal’s family, expressed disappointment at the outcome.
Lamine Yamal's father, Mounir, is confident in his son's Ballon d'Or chances next year 😅 pic.twitter.com/O0kwy9Npuw
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 22, 2025
Yamal’s Father Responds to Ballon d’Or Results
Lamine Yamal, widely regarded by Barcelona supporters as “by far the best player in the world” at just 18 years old, was forced to settle for second place in the Ballon d’Or voting. His father strongly condemned the decision, describing Dembele’s win as the “greatest moral harm” in football and labelling the result as “strange”.
Barcelona Fans Voice Frustration
The result has reignited debate over the Ballon d’Or voting process, with many Barcelona supporters and the wider Catalan community firmly believing that Yamal, after a remarkable campaign, should have claimed the sport’s most prestigious individual honour over Dembele. Emotions continue to run high as the football world reacts to the announcement.
