For a lot of in France, it was an evening of glory. However in Spain, controversy broke out as one among Europe’s greatest golf equipment discovered itself accused of overstepping boundaries and celebrating within the improper course. Barcelona’s response to Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or win has left many followers livid, with some accusing the membership of disrespecting its very personal wonderkid, Lamine Yamal.
Dembele’s profession has been something however simple. Written off by many throughout his irritating spell at Camp Nou, the Frenchman’s time in Catalonia was affected by inconsistency and accidents. But, his choice to hitch Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 reworked him into the participant many at all times believed he may turn out to be.
Underneath Luis Enrique’s steerage, Dembele reinvented himself as a centre-forward, scoring 35 objectives throughout all competitions within the 2024-25 marketing campaign. He was the difference-maker as PSG swept to 4 trophies, together with their long-awaited first UEFA Champions League crown.
That dominance was rewarded in Paris on Monday night time, the place the Frenchman was topped the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, beating out Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Vitinha.
Taking the stage on the Theatre du Chatelet, a visibly emotional Dembele regarded again on his journey. “Thanks to all of the golf equipment I’ve performed for—Stade Rennes, Borussia Dortmund, and the membership I at all times dreamed of taking part in for, Barcelona,” he stated. The ahead went additional, crediting his improvement at Camp Nou as invaluable. “I realized a lot there, taking part in alongside gamers like Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. It was an ideal studying expertise. I’m so glad.”
Bitter tablet for Barcelona
Whereas Dembele’s win was celebrated in Paris and past, the outcome was bittersweet for Barcelona. Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old prodigy many believed was destined to turn out to be the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in historical past, completed second regardless of main the Catalan membership to a home treble.
Even Dembele himself acknowledged Yamal’s brilliance, telling reporters afterward: “We’ve seen Lamine Yamal play all season, he’s a unprecedented participant with a number of maturity. If the planets align, he’s going to win a number of trophies just like the Ballon d’Or.” But it wasn’t Yamal’s close to miss that stirred up debate—it was Barcelona’s habits after the ceremony.
Lamine Yamal wins 2025 Kopa Trophy (Greatest Males’s Younger Expertise/Participant of the Yr) on the 69th Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
The controversial put up
Quickly after Ronaldinho introduced the Ballon d’Or to Dembele, Barcelona’s official social media accounts congratulated their former participant. Alongside footage of Dembele and Aitana Bonmatí—who was topped the world’s finest ladies’s participant—the membership posted: “Ballon d’Or winners.”
What ought to have been a easy nod of recognition spiraled into backlash. Many followers accused Barcelona of attempting to assert a participant who had left them behind. One fan on X (previously Twitter) fumed: “He’s not your participant. Don’t put up him.” One other added: “Hold working so laborious that your Ex appreciates and celebrates your success”.
Others accused the Catalan giants of undermining Yamal by highlighting Dembele as a substitute of specializing in their very own stars. Some rival followers even contrasted the Blaugrana’s transfer with Actual Madrid, suggesting Los Blancos would have proven “class” in the identical state of affairs.
