Lamine Yamal handed Ballon d’Or boost after PSG fall in Club World Cup final | OneFootball

FC Barcelona had a memorable 2024-25 season, and several of their players stood out throughout the campaign. The Blaugranes’ forward line of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal was particularly impressive and was one of the best attacking lines in Europe.

So much so that two of these forwards, Raphinha and Yamal, are being seen as top candidates for the next Ballon d’Or award. However, they will be facing stiff competition from a former Barcelona player, Ousmane Dembele, who also has had a season to remember with Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG losses the FIFA CWC final vs Chelsea

(Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

As opposed to the Catalan side, the Parisians were also competing in the FIFA Club World Cup and were able to make their way to the very final of the competition. However, they fell at this last stage as the Premier League side Chelsea defeated them last night.

As Mundo Deportivo has noted, the French team’s fall in this final can benefit Yamal, who is expected to fight Dembele for the Ballon d’Or this year, while Raphinha stands a step below these players.

Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele season comparison

(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

With this loss in the CWC final, Dembele ends the season with the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and French Super Cup titles.

He was also the MVP of the UCL and scored a goal in the final. He is also yet to play the European Super Cup against Tottenham before the Ballon d’Or is awarded. The Frenchman scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists last season in 53 total appearances.

On the other hand, Yamal won the La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey titles with Barcelona. He reached the semi-final stage in the UCL and lost the final of the UEFA Nations League against Portugal. The youngster scored 18 goals for Barcelona, and another 3 for Spain, and gave 25 assists last season.

While winning the UCL could prove to be the difference for Ousmane Dembele, the fact that Lamine Yamal played at such a high level at such a young age can also turn the balance in his favor for this Ballon d’Or.