Lamine Yamal sets Ballon d'Or rival Ousmane Dembele a Nations League challenge

The Spain international is among the favourites to win the award this year.

Ahead of Spain’s match against France in the UEFA Nations League semi-final, Lamine Yamal handed a challenge to fellow Ballon d’Or candidate Ousmane Dembele.

Rejuvenated at Paris Saint-Germain, Dembele has been a key player in their treble-winning season, which has seen them win the UEFA Champions League, the Coupe de France, and Ligue 1. With 35 goals for club and country this season across all competitions, his output in front of goal has been outstanding.

Not to be easily outdone, Lamine Yamal, 17, has been a key player for Barcelona and helped them dominate the domestic scene. In addition to winning the LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España, he made another strong showing for the Spanish national team.

Lamine Yamal has scored 19 goals across all competitions, which is a remarkable total for a teenager who is just starting to make an impression in the top division. It should be mentioned, though, that after PSG easily defeated Inter 5-0 in the final, Dembele defeated Yamal to win the Champions League Player of the Season title.

The competition for the Ballon d’Or 2025 is fierce because both players had outstanding seasons for their clubs and their countries.

This is a two-horse race for the most prestigious individual award in international football, and the Nations League semi-final between Spain and France is being promoted as a possible decider. Lamine Yamal, however, questioned the reasoning for basing the prize on a single match rather than adding to the drama.

Speaking to Spanish broadcaster El Partidazo on Monday, Yamal said: “I am confident that we [Spain] will win on Thursday, but whether we win or not, I would still vote for the best player in the world. If Thursday doesn’t go the way I want or Dembele wants, then what? You’re voting for someone else who plays on Sunday? I’m the kind of person who votes for the best player over the whole year. But if people want to risk it all on one game, well… we can play that game then.”

The teenage forward then cheekily added: “I’d give it to the best player of the year… and I’d keep it for myself.”

Football fans may anticipate a masterclass in Stuttgart and possibly a sighting of the next Ballon d’Or winner in action, as both Yamal and Dembele are in incredible form and keen to outperform one another.

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