Pure class from Lamine Yamal! Ballon d'Or runner-up congratulates rival Ousmane Dembele on award as father of Barcelona star fires warning ahead of next year's ceremony

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal was quick to congratulate Ousmane Dembele after seeing the Paris Saint-Germain star beat him to the 2025 Ballon d’Or award. The teenager finished second in the rankings but didn’t go home empty-handed as he won the Kopa Award for a second year running, and his father is confident that it will be a different story next year.

Pure class from Lamine Yamal! Ballon d'Or runner-up congratulates rival Ousmane Dembele on award as father of Barcelona star fires warning ahead of next year's ceremonyPure class from Lamine Yamal! Ballon d'Or runner-up congratulates rival Ousmane Dembele on award as father of Barcelona star fires warning ahead of next year's ceremony

Dembele has been crowned the best male player in the world after winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or award. The PSG star pipped Yamal to top spot after inspiring ‘s side to a quadruple last season. The campaign also brought a first title for the French giants after a 5-0 victory over in the final.

Yamal may have tasted disappointment in Paris but he was spotted congratulating Dembele on his win with a handshake, a warm hug and a few words. The teenager also did not go home empty-handed as he won the Kopa Trophy for the second year in a row.

Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, was at the ceremony and fired out a warning after seeing Dembele beat his son to the top prize. “Next year is ours,” he told COPE after the awards had been handed out in Paris.

Yamal will now return to and hope to return to action with Hansi Flick’s side soon. The teenager is currently sidelined with injury and it’s not clear yet when he will be available again. Barcelona take on next in La Liga on Thursday and then face on Sunday.