Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old FC Barcelona star, is generating buzz ahead of the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony held on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Yamal is considered a strong candidate for the prestigious award. Adding to the anticipation, reports have surfaced that Yamal has planned a private party in Paris on the night of the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Yamal will be accompanied by approximately 20 family members, all outfitted in Dolce & Gabbana attire. This grand gesture indicates Yamal's confidence in his chances of winning. Even his father, Mounir Nasraoui, reportedly arrived in advance to ensure that every detail of the celebration meets expectations.
Yamal's impressive performance during the 2024/25 season has solidified his position as a top contender for the Ballon d'Or. He played 55 matches, scored 18 goals, and provided 25 assists, proving instrumental in Barcelona's La Liga and Copa del Rey victories.
Despite Yamal's stellar season, Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is also considered a frontrunner for the award. Sport considers Dembélé to be the main favorite. Dembélé's trophy haul includes Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France with PSG. He ended the season with 35 goals and 16 assists, with 14 goal involvements in the Champions League.
While individual brilliance is a key factor, the Ballon d'Or also considers team success and consistency. Yamal did not win the Champions League or the UEFA Nations League. Although Yamal's talent is undeniable, his trophy haul includes a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey crown with Barcelona.
According to a purely statistical method by the CIES Football Observatory, Yamal ranks first among the top 100 players in the world. This ranking considers player performance in six game areas, taking into account employment, sporting level of matches, and results. In terms of pure performance metrics, Yamal ranks among the top three with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will gather some of the most famous names in world football. Whether Yamal's preparations are a sign of confidence or youthful optimism, the football world will be watching.
