Barcelona's Lamine Yamal Says 'Spain Vs France Not A Ballon D'Or Decider'
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Barcelona's Lamine Yamal feels the UEFA Nations League won't determine the Ballon d'Or winner, despite strong seasons for him and PSG's Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal has asserted that Thursday's Nations League Final Four performances will not determine the Ballon d'Or winner, despite both he and Paris St Germain forward Ousmane Dembele competing.
Spain and France will meet in Stuttgart for a place in the final, with the victor facing either Germany or Portugal, who play in the other semi-final on Wednesday.
Both Yamal and Dembele have been instrumental for their clubs and countries this season, and either could claim the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy at the Paris ceremony in September.
However, Yamal countered a journalist who implied Thursday's match could sway the vote.
'If you had to award the Ballon d'Or, would you give it to the best player of the year or the one who wins on Thursday?" Yamal asked Spanish broadcaster Cadena COPE on Monday.
'I'm confident we'll win on Thursday, but regardless of the result, I'd vote for the player of the year. If something were to happen to me or Dembele on Thursday, who would you vote for? The player in Sunday's final?
'I would give it to the best player of the year, and I'd keep it for myself."
The competition between the two is fierce, with Dembele having secured a Ligue 1, French Cup, and Champions League treble, while 17-year-old Yamal won La Liga, the Spanish Cup, and Spanish Super Cup.
Dembele has scored 35 goals in all competitions for club and country this season, compared to Yamal's 19.
The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, covering the period from 1 August to 31 July, will be announced in early August, with the ceremony scheduled for 22 September.
First Published:
June 03, 2025, 09:06 IST
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