Legendary striker insists award should have gone for the player with the most individual impact
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he would have given Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal the 2025 Ballon d’Or award if he had the choice.
Yamal finished second in last month’s awards ceremony in Paris. Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele took the prestigious individual prize after a season in which he scored 33 goals in 49 appearances and won the treble with Luis Enrique’s side.
The Kopa Trophy, recognition as the world’s best player under 21, was given to Yamal instead for the second consecutive year.
Ibrahimovic said the Ballon d’Or should have been given to Yamal because it should reward players who make the most individual impact.
“You have to judge the player on his ability to make a difference individually,” Ibrahimovic told Gazzetta dello Sport. “For me, Yamal did. I would have given it to Yamal.”
Yamal made over 100 appearances for Barcelona before turning 18 in August. He finished with the highest assists in La Liga (15) in 2024-25 and produced 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 games as Barcelona won a domestic treble.
However, the Champions League eluded Hansi Flick’s side after they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Inter Milan.
