Zlatan Ibrahimovic Shocks Football World: Why Lamine Yamal Should Have Won the Ballon d'Or

Zlatan Ibrahimović revealed he would have awarded the 2025 Ballon d'Or to Lamine Yamal instead of Ousmane Dembélé, stating the young star created greater individual impact.

The Ballon d'Or represents soccer's most coveted individual accolade presented annually. Dembélé claimed the 2025 prize following his role in leading Paris Saint-Germain to their maiden Champions League title. However, Ibrahimović, who previously played for Barcelona, PSG and Manchester United, believed the 18-year-old sensation deserved the recognition.

Both athletes were universally regarded as the leading contenders heading into the awards ceremony, though Ibrahimović's preference would have altered the outcome if his vote had been decisive.

"The evaluation must focus on a player's capacity to create individual impact. In my view, Yamal achieved this. My vote would have gone to Yamal," Ibrahimović told Gazzetta dello Sport during the Festival dello Sport di Trento.

Yamal Aspires to Claim Multiple Ballon d'Ors

The statistical achievements and continental success favored the ultimate winner.

Dembélé concluded the 2024–25 campaign with 35 goals and 16 assists in all competitions while securing an unprecedented quadruple. Yamal, who captured a domestic treble with Barcelona, recorded 18 goals and 25 assists. PSG's Champions League triumph and Dembélé's offensive contributions likely influenced voter decisions significantly.

Nevertheless, Yamal demonstrated superior individual influence according to Ibrahimović's assessment.

The Spanish talent wasn't completely overlooked at the September awards ceremony, securing his second straight Kopa Trophy—recognizing the top player under 21. This achievement made him the inaugural back-to-back winner of this honor.

"Divine timing is flawless, one must ascend to reach the summit," Yamal commented following the ceremony. "Thrilled about the Kopa trophy x2 and congratulations to Dembélé for his award and outstanding campaign."

The 18-year-old expressed his ambitious goals regarding the premier award. "I shared with my friends, I don't aspire to win one Ballon d'Or, I aspire to win multiple," Yamal disclosed earlier this year.

2025 Ballon d'Or Results Breakdown: Top 10

Dembélé secured 73 first-place selections versus Yamal's 11. This disparity created a substantial margin between the top two finishers. These players were the sole recipients of over 1,000 voting points.