The wait to crown the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner is nearly over and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal looks more than ready for the big night in Paris. Even though the race is mainly between two players, the 18-year-old has already set ambitious plans should he emerge victorious tonight.
Softfootball reports that the Ballon d’Or 2025 is no longer an exclusive duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. After the era of these two football giants, the race for the world’s most prestigious football award now focuses on Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé. While Dembélé delivered an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain, the young Barcelona sensation is the favorite among many football experts and fans.
At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal has proven to be a true football phenomenon. During the 2024-2025 season, he scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists, playing a pivotal role in Barcelona’s La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup triumphs.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé had an impressive season at PSG, finding his rhythm under Luis Enrique and contributing to the club’s Champions League victory. Despite Dembélé’s achievements, Yamal’s consistent performances and influence in a transitional Barcelona squad give him the edge in this year’s Ballon d’Or race, and the starlet is ready to party if he wins tonight.
According to Mundo Deportivo as reported by Fabrizio Romano on his Facebook page, the Barcelona star will show up at the Théâtre du Châtelet with not just his parents and younger brother, but a full entourage of 20 family members and friends, all dressed head-to-toe in tailored Dolce & Gabbana.
The updates also reveals that the youngster is prepared to host a private party in Paris night if he takes home the award, which is why he’s bringing along 20 family members and friends to the ceremony. The post reads:
Lamine Yamal is ready to host a PRIVATE PARTY in Paris night in case he wins the Ballon d’Or, reveals Mundo Deportivo!. That is why he is taking 20 FAMILY and friends to the ceremony.
Giving the Ballon d’Or 2025 to Lamine Yamal would reward the future of football and recognize a young player capable of leading and deciding matches at the highest level. His maturity, skill, and ability to shine in a team rebuilding after the Messi era make him a deserving candidate.
Even if Yamal doesn’t win this edition, his trajectory is clear: he is set to be a protagonist in future Ballon d’Or races, continuing to dominate European and world football for years to come.
France Football, the founders of the Ballon d’Or, made a significant change to proceedings in 2024. In previous years, the magazine interviewed the winner prior to their name being announced on stage, but in a bid to avoid repeated leaks and preserve secrecy for as long as possible, they have stopped revealing the precious information.
Softfootball reported earlier that despite being among the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, it has been suggested that Dembele won’t be present in Paris on Monday as PSG are set to face Marseille in a rescheduled Ligue 1 fixture. The Classique was postponed on Sunday due to extreme weather conditions.
