La Liga President Fires Back Over Lamine Yamal's Shocking Ballon d'Or Snub

The 2025 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony has concluded, yet discussions persist regarding who deserved to claim the men's premier accolade.

Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé secured his maiden award despite never being nominated for the prestigious honor before. Barcelona's young talent Lamine Yamal placed second, while claiming the Kopa Trophy for the second consecutive time - an award recognizing the finest player under 21 years old, established in 2018. Yamal made history as both the first recipient to win this trophy twice and to do so in back-to-back years.

La Liga president Javier Tebas contends that Yamal was overlooked for the Ballon d'Or purely due to his youth.

Tebas: Age Influenced Ballon d'Or Decision

"Had [Yamal] been over 23 years old, he would have claimed it as well, I'm certain, but because of his younger age, they awarded him the alternative prize. If he maintains his current standard, which appears likely, I believe there's no question he'll capture the Ballon d'Or [eventually]," Tebas stated during the Expansión & Marca Business Sport Forum in Madrid.

While both athletes secured their domestic league titles, PSG's Champions League victory likely influenced voters' decisions. Looking closer, Dembélé topped Ligue 1's scoring charts with 19 goals while Yamal recorded 18 goals across all competitions. With 51 combined goal contributions, only Kylian Mbappé and Robert Lewandowski surpassed Dembélé's non-penalty goal tally last season.

Following the ceremony, Yamal praised Dembélé on Instagram for his victory and "exceptional season."

Yamal stands among the early frontrunners for the 2026 award alongside other global superstars. Sustained domestic achievements under Hansi Flick at Barcelona, combined with Champions League aspirations and Spain's potential to capture the 2026 FIFA World Cup, positions Yamal favorably provided he maintains his performance, health, and trophy collection.

Should Yamal claim the award next year, he would still set the record as the youngest winner in the award's distinguished history. Additionally, he would remain qualified for another Kopa Trophy.