Three reasons why Lamine Yamal is not winning the Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or is football’s ultimate individual prize. The voting panel, made up of journalists around the world, is asked to weigh three main factors: individual brilliance, team success, and consistency across the season.

In recent years, we have seen the award go to players who combined eye-catching stats with major trophies – think Lionel Messi’s World Cup win in 2022 or Karim Benzema’s Champions League heroics just before that.

This year, much of the spotlight has fallen on the teenage phenomenon that is Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona and his ex-teammate, Ousmane Dembele, excelling at PSG. Both have been among the standout performers of the year, generating buzz as potential Ballon d’Or winners.

Yamal amazed fans with his maturity, flair, and match-winning ability at just 17 (turned 18 in July), while Dembele pieced together perhaps the most complete season of his career.

However, here are three reasons why Lamine is unlikely to beat out Dembele and the rest of the field for the Golden Orb.

No Champions League or Nations League titles

Two of the heaviest weight-bearing competitions in the Ballon d’Or calculation are the UEFA Champions League and international tournaments. This year, Yamal was unable to lift either the Champions League or the UEFA Nations League.

Champions League glory, in particular, often tips the scale for voters, as it is widely regarded as the toughest and most prestigious club competition. Lamine made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League and dazzled, but could not go all the way.

The Nations League, while not as historic as the World Cup or Euros, still carries significance, especially in a season without a major international tournament. And Lamine’s Spain side fell at the final hurdle vs Portugal, meaning two major trophies went missing from his collection.

Dembele’s trophy haul and strong season

The UCL could tilt the Ballon d’Or in Dembele’s favour. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Ballon d’Or voters look for a balance of individual magic and collective success. Yamal’s talent is unquestionable – he has been electric in La Liga and has shown flashes of becoming the next face of world football. But trophies are the currency of the Ballon d’Or race.

Yamal’s haul is nothing to dismiss: a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey crown with Barcelona. But Dembele matched him stride for stride, lifting Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France with PSG – leaving the Champions League as the separator – and this is where he comes out on top.

Dembele ended the season with 35 goals and 16 assists, compared to Lamine’s 18 goals and 25 assists. The PSG man had 14 goal involvements in the UCL, whereas the Barcelona gem had nine.

Absence from the FIFA Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup may not be the most glamorous tournament, but it’s a global shop window. Performances there often linger in the minds of voters, who weigh big-match impact heavily.

Dembele played his part in taking PSG all the way to the final, adding another high-profile achievement to his campaign.

Yamal and Barcelona, on the other hand, did not feature at all — and that absence left him without a chance to add a decisive highlight to his season’s resume. In a year where fine margins matter, that might end up being a missed opportunity.

Final word

Lamine Yamal is the future — few would argue otherwise. His breakout year has been spectacular, and at just 18, he is already carrying himself like a world-class star. And his time will almost certainly come — just not this year.

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