Lamine Yamal spoke publicly about his 2025 Ballon d’Or runner-up finish in a YouTube Q&A posted on Sunday.
Ousmane Dembélé claimed the award for the first time with 1,380 points, while Yamal finished second on 1,059 points. Addressing a fan question on how he felt about the result, Yamal said, "Honestly, to be frank, I thought I was going to win that day." He added that he now considers Dembélé’s victory beneficial for his own growth.
The Barcelona winger detailed his friendship with Dembélé, which began at an awards ceremony in Dubai. "We often go out together, spend time together, and chat a lot," Yamal said. He noted they spoke a few days ago and that Dembélé "helps me pick myself up" when he is struggling. Yamal stated, "He's helped me grow a lot as a person." Reflecting on the loss, he explained, "I don't think it was my time yet because I was still a kid, and I probably couldn't truly understand what winning the Ballon d'Or means."
Yamal closed by expressing support for Dembélé and ambitions for the future. "I'm really happy for Ousmane," he said, adding, "I hope this year it's my turn." The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to the top male footballer worldwide, decided by a panel of journalists. Yamal confirmed he and Dembélé remain in regular contact.