Ousmane Dembélé’s crowning moment at the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala in Paris set the football world buzzing, yet it was Lamine Yamal’s graceful first reaction that struck an emotional chord with fans.
The 18-year-old, who finished runner-up, offered a response that quickly went viral and added a heartfelt layer to an already historic night.
Source: Getty Images
Yamal’s reaction after Dembele’s Ballon d’Or win goes viral
Lamine may have fallen short of the main prize, but he made history by becoming the first footballer to claim the Kopa Trophy back-to-back.
His composure after missing out on the Golden Ball stood out.
In a clip circulating online, the teenager could be seen smiling, clapping for Dembele, and sharing a warm embrace with the Frenchman as chants echoed around the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Watch Yamal’s reaction after Dembele’s win:
The scene caught the attention of fans, who flocked to social media to share their thoughts on Yamal’s mature response despite finishing second. YEN.com.gh has compiled some reactions from X:
@BlueArenaNmore hailed:
“Great sportsmanship from Yamal.”
@0xHeroe_ predicted:
“He is gonna be a multi-award winner tbh.”
@mr_whale010 chimed in:
“He is a good player and will be winning in no time.”
@Bridgetluv4 added:
“He’s teary, he should not worry his time would come.”
@FCBJesse10 summed up:
“Wanted him to win, but this will definitely keep him hungry to win.”
Dembélé walked onto the stage to rapturous applause before Brazil legend Ronaldinho handed him the golden ball.
The PSG forward, who scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists in 53 appearances last season, was moved to tears as he addressed the audience.
“I have received this award from one of the biggest legends of all time, I can’t believe this. This is an award thanks to the collective. I want to thank all my teammates. I want to thank FC Barcelona, the club of my dreams. I played with Lionel Messi, I want to thank him too, I learned so much from him,” he said.
His dazzling season included firing PSG to a treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup.
He finished as joint top scorer in the league with 21 goals and was crowned player of the year in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Dembélé also inspired the Parisians to the Club World Cup final, where they fell to Chelsea in New Jersey.
The 28-year-old became the sixth French player to lift the Ballon d’Or and only the second this century, joining Karim Benzema, who won in 2022.
For Dembélé, the victory marked the pinnacle of a career that had long promised brilliance, while for Yamal, it was a night that confirmed his place among football’s brightest young stars.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
