LaLiga Explains Why Lamine Yamal Was Denied Award

Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, has suggested that Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal missed out on the 2025 Ballon d’Or due to his young age.

Despite finishing second in the voting behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, Tebas remains confident that Yamal will clinch the prestigious award in the near future.

The 18-year-old prodigy did not leave empty-handed, securing the Kopa Trophy for the second consecutive year, an honor reserved for the best young talent in the world.

“Had he been older than 23, he undoubtedly would have taken home the Ballon d’Or. His youth likely influenced the decision to award him the Kopa Trophy instead,” Tebas remarked.

In contrast, Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta conceded that Dembélé’s Champions League triumph with PSG played a pivotal role in securing the accolade.