Something very strange has happened here – Lamine Yamal’s father questions decision to award Ballon d’Or to Ousmane Dembele
Lamine Yamal missed out on the big prize but did retain the Kopa Trophy
Lamine Yamal’s father has slammed the decision to hand the Ballon d’Or to Ousmane Dembele rather than his son, claiming “something very strange has happened here”.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele was last night awarded the trophy after a wonderful year in which he helped his club win the domestic double and their maiden Champions League trophy.
The 28-year-old scored 37 goals and added 15 assists in 60 appearances in all competitions, spearheading the Parisians’ remarkable campaign which also included a run to the Club World Cup final.
Barcelona winger Yamal came second ahead of PSG midfielder Vitinha with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in fourth.
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Yamal’s father claims his boy is the best player in the world
Dembele appeared a worth winner but Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui was unimpressed.
He told El Chiringuito: “I think it’s the biggest… I’m not going to say theft but moral damage to a human being.
“I think Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world by far. Not because he is my son but because he is the best player in the world, I think there are no rivals.
“Lamine is Lamine Yamal. We have to say that something very strange has happened here.
“Next year the Ballon d’Or will be Spanish.”
Yamal retains Kopa Trophy
Yamal had earlier been named as the winner of the Kopa Trophy, recognising the best player in the world under the age of 21, for the second year on the trot.
The 18-year-old was phenomenal in helping Barca secure the double and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they narrowly lost to Inter in extra time of a remarkable last-four tie.
Indeed, Yamal scored 18 goals in all competitions and provided 21 assists as he took his game to another level following his breakthrough campaign of 2023-24.