Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has reacted humorously to Ousmane Dembélé leaving him out of his top three choices for the Ballon d’Or.
Yamal suggested that Dembélé’s close friendship with Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé may have influenced the Frenchman’s selections.
Speaking in comments shared by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, Yamal joked about the relationship between the two French stars.
“He’s Kylian Mbappé’s friend, right?” Yamal said with a smile.
Despite the playful remark, the Barcelona star stressed that he has no issue with Dembélé’s decision and understands why his fellow winger may have preferred other players.
Yamal said he was satisfied with his own performances during the season and acknowledged that their competitive encounters may have affected Dembélé’s perception of him.
“I’m very happy with the season I had. I think every time we faced each other, I probably did something that made them dislike me! And that’s normal,” he said.
The 19-year-old also pointed out that his relationship with Dembélé remains positive despite the Ballon d’Or debate.
“My relationship with Ousmane is very good, and I understand that he wants to choose other players,” Yamal added.
The Spain international remained confident in the quality of his season, insisting that his performances should speak for themselves.
“But I’m very happy with what I delivered this year, and I’m confident that everyone watched it, even if he didn’t,” he said.
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Yamal’s comments have added a light-hearted dimension to the Ballon d’Or discussions, particularly as both he and Dembélé are among the leading names involved in the award race.
The Barcelona winger has also made a strong start to the new LaLiga campaign, scoring four goals in his first four appearances.
He found the net twice against Rayo Vallecano before adding another brace against Valencia, further strengthening his early-season form.
With the Ballon d’Or debate gathering momentum, Yamal’s response shows that the teenager remains confident in his own credentials while maintaining a good relationship with Dembélé despite being omitted from the Frenchman’s top three.