Jules Kounde Tips Lamine Yamal for 2025 Ballon d’Or Glory

France international Jules Kounde has thrown his support behind Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, tipping the 18-year-old prodigy to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Both Yamal and fellow Blaugrana star Ousmane Dembele are among the 30 players shortlisted for the prestigious award. But when asked who he thought deserved the honor, Kounde did not hesitate.

“Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d’Or? You’re putting me in a tricky situation, but I think he deserves it,” Kounde told Le10Sport.
“I have a very good relationship with him. He is a team player, he works a lot for the team. I understand him perfectly.”

Yamal has enjoyed a breakthrough year, scoring 18 goals for Barcelona last season and dazzling fans with standout performances in the UEFA Champions League. Promoted to the first team by former manager Xavi, the teenager has quickly become one of Europe’s brightest young stars.

Opinion

Kounde’s backing of Yamal is more than just friendly support—it reflects the changing face of world football. At just 18, Yamal embodies the new generation of players who are not only blessed with flair but also the maturity and work ethic needed to thrive on the biggest stage.

While Dembele is an experienced and incredibly gifted winger, Yamal’s rise feels almost destined. His fearlessness, consistency, and ability to deliver in high-pressure games are qualities the Ballon d’Or jury often rewards. If he keeps this trajectory, he could indeed become one of the youngest winners in the award’s history.

Of course, football is unpredictable, and awards are as much about narrative as they are about numbers. But there is a romance in imagining a teenager from La Masia rising to the pinnacle of world football, just as Lionel Messi once did.

If Yamal does clinch the Ballon d’Or, it won’t just be a win for him or Barcelona—it will be a reminder that football is still a game where youthful brilliance can light up the world stage.