Former France midfielder Alain Giresse feels that Lamine Yamal doesn’t deserve to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or over Ousmane Dembele.
Speaking about Yamal fighting for the award, he stated: “Of course, there is Yamal, who exudes exceptional technical qualities. But, for me, he still lacks performance at the highest level.
“Dembele was above all a player who committed himself to the club and in the [Champions League] final showed his qualities with incredible pressing.
“This is an important factor but in the eyes of the public it does not have the same effect as a spectacular technical move. On the field, however, it has the same value. In my opinion, Dembele has the title that validates his season, a title that Yamal does not have.”
Yamal has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or as well as the Kopa Trophy awards after scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists in the 2024/25 season for Barcelona.