I Don’t Think About Winning Ballon D’or Anymore – Lamine Yama’s

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has played down talk of individual honours, saying winning the Ballon d’Or is no longer a personal priority as he shifts his focus to collective success with both club and country.

The Spanish international finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings behind Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé, despite enjoying a highly successful season with Barcelona. Yamal helped the Catalan giants secure La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España.

Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the teenage star described individual awards as unpredictable, stressing that they are influenced by factors beyond a player’s control.

“I don’t think about it,” Yamal said. “If you focus too much on an award like that, you won’t get any clear answers. It depends on what you win, how you perform and who is voting. It’s not decided by your performances alone.”

Yamal explained that his main motivation now lies in enjoying football and contributing to team success rather than chasing personal recognition.

“I just want to enjoy myself and win trophies with Barcelona and the national team,” he added. “My game isn’t about statistics. Sometimes I play well and don’t score, other times I score and don’t play as well. What matters to me is playing well, helping the team win and continuing on that path.”