Ballon d’Or 2025: Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele Delight Fans With Gala Bond
- Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal shared a touching moment at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony
- Netizens took notice of the rare moment, applauding the pair for putting rivalry aside to show mutual respect
- In the end, it was the Frenchman who claimed the coveted prize, while Yamal settled for a different honour on the night
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The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony was more than just a celebration of trophies. It became a night of unforgettable moments, with Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé at the heart of the conversation.
Their display of friendship lit up the Paris stage, drawing as much attention as the coveted award itself.
Source: Getty Images
Yamal and Dembele delight fans with Ballon d'Or bond
A viral photo of the duo captured them in a warm exchange, sending fans on social media into a frenzy. The reactions were telling.
@psomkar1 wrote simply:
“Beautiful ❤️”
@BnbZamani reminded everyone of Dembele’s Barcelona past:
“Once a culer 💙❤️ is always a culer 💙❤️.”
@Kasozi_Maluf couldn’t hold back admiration for Yamal:
“Look at Lamine... he's so aesthetically pleasing, clear winner.”
@salbiya92 hailed the pair:
“Two stars, one trophy! 🌟🤝”
And @XDebasisChakr01 summed it up:
“Respect 🤝 The two front-runners for the Ballon d’Or 🏆 Lamine Yamal. Ousmane Dembélé.”
Here's the moment Yamal and Dembele shared a hug:
Who wins the Ballon d'Or: Yamal or Demebele?
In a remarkable twist, Dembélé showed up at the gala even though the event clashed with Le Classique, France’s biggest domestic fixture.
He made his entrance on the red carpet alongside Paris Saint-Germain teammates João Neves and Désiré Doué, underlining his place among the elite.
Watch Dembele's arrival at the Ballon d'Or gala:
The French forward had every reason to be there. He produced a career-best season, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists in all competitions, cementing his status as a serious contender for the crown, according to the BBC.
Check out Dembele's statistics in the 2024/25 campaign:
Across Spain, 18-year-old Yamal emerged as Barcelona’s brightest light.
His tally of 18 goals in 55 appearances helped the Catalan giants secure both La Liga and Copa del Rey titles.
His meteoric rise has positioned him as one of the youngest and most exciting nominees in Ballon d’Or history, clinching the 2025 Kopa Trophy, per beIN Sports.
Watch the moment Yamal was declared Kopa Trophy winner:
PSG’s influence on this year’s shortlist was impossible to ignore. Nine players from last season’s treble-winning squad were nominated.
Alongside Dembélé, the group featured Doué, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha.
Former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City, also made the cut.
But ultimately, Dembele edged the Barcelona sensation, becoming the sixth French footballer to win the Golden Ball prize.
Source: Getty Images
It was not only to mark his first Ballon d’Or triumph but also to signal the dawn of a new era — one where football’s brightest stars step forward in the post-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo age.
Dembele breaks down after winning Ballon d'Or
In a related report, YEN.com.gh highlighted how Ousmane Dembélé was visibly emotional after edging Lamine Yamal to claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
The 28-year-old forward expressed his gratitude by dedicating the prestigious honour to the entire PSG family.
Source: YEN.com.gh
