Spanish forward of Moroccan roots, Lamine Yamal, has emphasised that missing out on winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or does not bother him.
Before receiving the prestigious Mundo Deportivo award, the Spanish international reflected on his football philosophy and the debate surrounding individual accolades, particularly the Ballon d’Or, where he finished second in the 2025 edition.
Yamal made it clear that personal scoring statistics are not the foundation of his game, stressing that his priorities lie elsewhere.
“My playing style is not based on the need to score. It is true that this is controversial, because when I play well it is because I do not score, and when I score it is because I do not play well, but I want to play well, for the team to win, and for us to continue in this manner,” he told the publication.
Despite narrowly missing out on football’s most coveted individual prize, the young forward insisted the outcome does not weigh heavily on his mind. He suggested that the Ballon d’Or process lacks clear logic and consistency, making it difficult to dwell on the result.
“I don’t think about it. It’s an award, if you think about it you won’t find an answer. It depends on what you win, how you play, who votes; it’s not about your performance. I just want to enjoy myself and win with Barcelona and the national team,” Yamal explained.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or was ultimately claimed by Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé, with Yamal settling for second place.
