‘God’s plan is perfect’ – Lamine Yamal congratulates Ousmane Dembele as dad vows about next Ballon d’Or

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has congratulated Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé after the Frenchman edged him out to claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday night.

Although the 18-year-old finished as runner-up in the voting, he left the ceremony with another personal accolade, securing the Kopa Trophy for the second successive year to underline his status as one of the world’s brightest emerging talents.

Yamal, who is of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent through his parents, used social media to show respect to Dembélé while reflecting on his own journey.

“God’s plan is perfect, you have to climb to get to the top. Happy for the Kopa trophy x2 and congratulation @o.dembele7 for the award and the great season,” he posted on Instagram after the awards were announced.

While the teenager’s rise has been rapid, his family is already eyeing the top prize next year.

His father, Mounir Nasraoui, who attended the ceremony in the French capital, struck a defiant note when speaking to COPE moments after Dembélé collected the trophy.

“Next year is ours,” he declared, hinting at the family’s belief that Yamal can go one step further in 2026.

The Barcelona winger’s immediate priority, however, is his fitness. Currently sidelined with an injury, Yamal has no confirmed return date, a blow for Hansi Flick’s side as they prepare for La Liga fixtures against Real Oviedo on Thursday and Real Sociedad on Sunday.