Lamine Yamal motivation for Ballon d’Or was emphasized by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who insists the young star’s drive has been evident even as he narrowly missed out on the main trophy. Yamal, who secured the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player for the second year running, was hailed by Laporta as having “great quality” and a healthy ambition.
Despite not winning the Ballon d’Or, Yamal’s performances in the 2024-25 season were outstanding. He scored 18 goals in 55 matches across all competitions, helped Barcelona to LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa titles, and ended up second only to Ousmane Dembélé.
Laporta noted that winning the Champions League had considerable weight in the Ballon d’Or voting, a factor that worked against Yamal this time. He also believes that this outcome will fuel Yamal’s motivation even more, and expressed confidence that awards of this stature are ahead for the teenager.
Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí claimed the Ballon d’Or Féminin for the third consecutive year. Her consistency and dominance for both Spain and Barcelona were again recognized, as she surpassed strong competition to make history.
Beyond the Ballon d’Or, Yamal’s accolade of retaining the Kopa Trophy underscores his status among global rising stars. His double with Vicky López also winning the women’s Kopa Trophy signals bright potential within Barcelona’s next generation.
