Lamine Yamal Arrives at Ballon d’Or 2025 with Extensive Family Support Amidst Tight competition
PARIS - Barcelona‘s Lamine Yamal, a leading contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, arrived at the ceremony accompanied by a remarkable entourage of 20 family members, signaling the significance of the event for the 18-year-old star. While widely considered a favorite, Yamal faces stiff competition in a post-Ronaldo/Messi era where the outcome remains highly uncertain.
The presence of such a large family group underscores the immense pride and support surrounding Yamal’s breakout season. His performance last year was pivotal in Barcelona’s success, securing a domestic treble including the Spanish League, Spanish Super Cup, and Copa Del Rey.However, despite reaching the Champions League semifinals, the coveted title eluded the team. Yamal’s individual statistics – 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions – have fueled expectations, but the Ballon d’Or is rarely decided solely on numbers.
Yamal’s primary challenge is expected to come from Ousmane Dembele, who played a key role in Paris Saint-germain’s (PSG) historic Quadruple-winning season. Dembele is one of eight PSG players nominated for the award, adding to the pressure on Yamal. Other strong candidates include Raphinha and Mohamed Salah.
The Ballon d’or proclamation is scheduled for later this evening,and will determine whether Yamal’s remarkable season translates into football’s highest individual honor.