Barcelona president backs Lamine Yamal for future Ballon d’Or – ‘This will motivate him even more’ | OneFootball

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta was an immensely happy man last night at the 2025 Ballon d’Or gala.

After all players from the club took home three of the four major awards: Aitana Bonmati, winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, and Lamine Yamal and Vicky Lopez were crowned with the Men’s and Women’s Kopa Trophy, respectively.

It was Lamine’s second Kopa Trophy, having already won it last year, while he also finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or rankings, behind winner Ousmane Dembele.

Laporta happy

Speaking to the media in the mixed zone after the gala, Laporta expressed his happiness for all the winners from Barcelona.

“The second Kopa of Lamine is very remarkable, I am very happy for Aitana, when she goes on stage, she gives a recognition that moves you,” he said.

“With Aitana I am delighted, she has given an exceptional speech, she has touched everything, family, club, equality, we know that these are reasons that motivate Aitana to keep improving,” he added.

Despite falling just short of the Ballon d’Or, Laporta underlined the value of Lamine being a finalist at only 18 years of age.

“Two Kopa trophies, nobody has them, I am sure that now Lamine will fight for the Ballon d’Or. There were many nerves, because in the theatre there were quite a few shouting ‘Ousmane, Ousmane’ and a few of us from Barça shouting ‘Lamine, Lamine’.”

“I am sure that this will motivate Lamine much more,” he added.

The Barcelona delegation at the Ballon d’Or gala. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Continuing, Laporta remarked: “We had hope, we had Raphinha, Lamine and Pedri nominated, in the end, the finalists were Lamine and Dembele. I think the fact of winning the Champions League had its weight.”

“But it is another recognition, nobody has two Kopa trophies. I am sure he will achieve it,” he insisted in reference to the Ballon d’Or for Lamine. “Time will tell, but he is a person of great quality,” he added.

As for the objective for this season with the team, Laporta commented: “The objective is to work, work, and work and keep fighting.

“What we are trying to do is deliver a high level of quality, we have a great coach, very motivated to build a team, to build a group. We want to surpass what we did last year, we are ambitious.”

The Barcelona president did not forget Vicky López, who won the first women’s Kopa Trophy.

“It is a source of pride, I am also happy for Vicky López,” said Laporta, who also appreciated the gesture of Flick attending the gala in Paris.

“We have international recognition, I greatly appreciate the presence of coach Hansi Flick, who never stops working,” he remarked.

He also had words of thanks for Dembele, winner of the Ballon d’Or. “I thanked Dembele for mentioning Barça, he did very well,” he said.

Finally, he sent a message to FC Barcelona supporters. “To the fans I say keep believing in Barça, it is admirable the patience they are having with some things, and they never abandon, we owe everything to the members and supporters,” he concluded.

Source: Mundo Deportivo