Sport
I thought I was going to win the Ballon d’Or – Yamal
Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal has admitted that he believed he would win the 2025 Ballon d’Or before ultimately losing out to Ousmane Dembélé.
Speaking about the prestigious award, Yamal said he initially thought the trophy would be his but later accepted that it was not yet his time.
“To be honest, I thought I was going to win the Ballon d’Or that day,” Yamal said.
The Spain international, however, congratulated Dembélé on his success, insisting that the French winger deserved the honour.
“It’s a very good thing that Ousmane won it. It wasn’t my time to win it yet. I was still a kid and I probably wouldn’t have fully appreciated the moment as Ousmane Dembélé did,” he added.
Yamal said the experience helped him mature both on and off the pitch.
“I came out of it a better person and a lot of things changed in my life. Today, I’ve bounced back, and we’ll see if this year will be the one for me,” he said.
The talented forward is expected to be among the contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or following another impressive season for club and country.
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