Ousmane Dembele’s victory at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards has been derided by Lamine Yamal’s father, who maintains that his son is ‘by far the best player in the world.’
After an incredible 12 months at the top, during which he was instrumental in helping Paris Saint-Germain win four trophies, including the Champions League, Dembele won the coveted award for the first time.
In the end, Liverpool’s talisman Mohamed Salah lost out again, coming fourth in the race for the prized trophy, behind PSG midfielder Vitinha, while Barcelona wonder Lamine Yamal had to settle for second best.
After another incredible season with Barca and Spain at the club and international levels, the unstoppable Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award for the third consecutive year.
Many fans and pundits argued that Yamal should win the historic prize, even though Dembele was the bookmakers’ favourite to win at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris.
Yamal’s Father Spared No Words Over Ballon d’Or Loss
According to The Metro, in the immediate aftermath, his father, Mounir Nasraoui, was less than kind, voicing his disapproval of the choice to present Dembele with the honour to the Spanish television program El Chiringuito.
“He’s the greatest,’ Nasraoui said of Yamal, who came away from the ceremony with the Kopa Trophy – presented to the best-performing player under the age of 21 – for the second year on the trot.
“I’m not going to say theft, but rather moral damage to a human being.
“Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world by far.