Skip to main content
Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal's father claims 'moral damage' after son loses Ballon d'Or to Dembélé

The father of Lamine Yamal expressed outrage after his son was not awarded the Ballon d'Or, calling the decision a "moral damage" and declaring Yamal the world's best player.

23 sept 2025 - 14:35 • 2 min read

Sports

The 2025 Ballon d'Or gala in Paris, which saw Ousmane Dembélé crowned the world's best footballer, was marked by controversy stemming from Lamine Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui.

Nasraoui's vocal support for his 18-year-old son went viral during the ceremony, as he was seen and heard enthusiastically cheering for Yamal, who was among the nominees. However, his elation turned to indignation when France Football announced Dembélé as the winner.

In explosive statements made to "El Chiringuito," Nasraoui vehemently criticized the jury's decision, stopping short of calling it a "robbery" but asserting it was a significant "moral damage to a human being." He declared that Lamine Yamal is "the best player in the world by a significant difference" and that "there are no rivals." He added, "Lamine is Lamine Yamal, something very strange has happened here."

Nasraoui's outburst has ignited a debate within the sports world, dividing opinions between those who sympathize with a proud father's frustration and those who condemn the public criticism of a legitimate sporting decision.

Adding to the controversy, Nasraoui issued a defiant promise for the future, stating, "Next year is ours," and that the following Ballon d'Or would belong to his son. This has been interpreted as a bold challenge to Dembélé and other potential contenders for the 2026 award.

The reactions have had a significant impact on social media and international sports media, with hashtags related to the event trending globally. While Yamal himself acknowledged the outcome with a message about God's plan and congratulated Dembélé on winning the award and his "great season," his father's strong stance has overshadowed much of the discussion around the actual ceremony and its results.