{
  "id": 6402556,
  "title": "Yamal responds to Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or snub",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/yamal-responds-to-dembeles-ballon-dor-snub-6402556",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T09:48:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/yamal-responds-to-dembeles-ballon-dor-snub/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Barcelona's Lamine Yamal has responded to Ousmane Dembélé's omission from his top three Ballon d'Or selections by jokingly suggesting that Dembélé may have been swayed by his friendship with Kylian Mbappé. In a post on X, Yamal playfully remarked, \"He's Kylian Mbappé's friend, right?\" The Spanish winger clarified that he harbors no ill will towards Dembélé and acknowledges that his poor showing against the French forward may have contributed to the decision. Yamal expressed his satisfaction with his own season, stating, \"I'm very happy with the season I had.\" He maintained that his relationship with Dembélé is strong and that he understands why the Frenchman opted for other players. Despite being left out of Dembélé's top three, Yamal remains confident in his own performances, noting that his contributions during the season were evident to all who watched.",
  "summary": "Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has responded to Ousmane Dembélé leaving him out of his top three picks for the Ballon d’Or, jokingly suggesting that the Paris Saint-Germain forward may have been influenced by his friendship with Kylian Mbappé. In a post by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Yamal was quoted as Read More:…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Barca star Lamine Yamal says will not beg for Ballon d'Or",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/barca-star-lamine-yamal-says-will-not-beg-for-ballon-dor",
        "published": "2026-09-08T14:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Barca star Yamal says will not beg for Ballon d’Or",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/barca-star-yamal-says-will-not-beg-for-ballon-dor",
        "published": "2026-09-08T14:59:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Full List of 'Coach of the Year' Nominees at 2026 Ballon d'Or",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/full-list-of-coach-of-the-year-nominees-at-2026-ballon-dor",
        "published": "2026-09-08T15:04:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "FULL LIST: Messi, Yamal among 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/full-list-messi-yamal-among-2026-ballon-dor-nominees",
        "published": "2026-09-08T15:38:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Yamal: I don’t need to campaign for Ballon d’Or",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/yamal-i-dont-need-to-campaign-for-ballon-dor",
        "published": "2026-09-08T16:20:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Lamine Yamal refuses to campaign for Ballon d’Or",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/lamine-yamal-refuses-to-campaign-for-ballon-dor",
        "published": "2026-09-08T17:22:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Ballon d’Or 2026: ‘Only one qualified’ – Lamine Yamal names player to win special award",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/ballon-dor-2026-only-one-qualified-lamine-yamal-names-player-to-win",
        "published": "2026-09-08T17:30:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Dembele, Mbappe, Kane and Yamal top Ballon d’Or shortlist",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/dembele-mbappe-kane-and-yamal-top-ballon-dor-shortlist",
        "published": "2026-09-08T21:00:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}