The name of Lamine Yamal continues to rise in the elite of world football. The FC Barcelona and Spain winger, only 18 years old, once again made his ambition clear during an appearance on José Ramón de la Morena’s podcast Resonancia de Corazón. Ahead of the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, Yamal surprised everyone by stating that his goal is not to win just one, but to collect multiple of football’s most prestigious awards.

What did Lamine Yamal say about the Ballon d’Or?

The Barça starlet was direct with his response:

“I told my friends: I don’t dream of winning just one Ballon d’Or, I dream of winning several.”

With these words, Yamal showed that his mindset goes far beyond the short term. The young forward already envisions himself competing for multiple individual titles throughout his career, following in the footsteps of football’s greatest icons.

Nominated alongside other Barça stars

The 2025 Ballon d’Or gala will take place on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. In addition to Lamine, three other Barcelona players are on the list of nominees: Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha. The Catalan club will be one of the most represented teams at the ceremony.

Who has won more than one Ballon d’Or?

Since its creation in 1956, only ten players have managed to win the award multiple times. Among them are Di Stéfano, Beckenbauer, Ronaldo Nazario, Rummenigge, and Keegan (two each). Higher up are Cruyff, Platini, and Van Basten (three each), Cristiano Ronaldo (five), and Lionel Messi, who holds the all-time record with eight.

Is Lamine Yamal a favorite in 2025?

While the Spanish sensation is certainly one of the top candidates after Barcelona’s treble last season, the current favorite is Ousmane Dembélé. The Frenchman recorded 35 goals and 16 assists, playing a pivotal role in PSG’s quadruple (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League, and Trophée des Champions).