I don’t think about winning Ballon d’Or award anymore – Lamine Yamal

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has revealed that winning the Ballon d’Or is no longer something he thinks about, saying his priorities have shifted to collective success with club and country.

The Spanish international finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, despite enjoying a trophy-laden season with Barcelona, where he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Yamal said individual awards are unpredictable and not entirely within a player’s control, stressing that his attention is now firmly on helping Barcelona and Spain win major honours.

“I don’t think about it. It’s an award that, if you focus on it too much, you won’t get any answers,” he said. “It depends on what you win, how you play and who votes. It’s not something decided solely by your performances.”

The teenager added that enjoyment and teamwork matter more to him than personal recognition.

“I just want to enjoy myself and win with Barca and the national team,” Yamal said. “My game isn’t based on statistics. It can cause debate because sometimes I play well and don’t score, and other times I score and don’t play as well. But my goal is to play well, help the team win and keep it that way.”