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Ballon d'Or disappointment will inspire Yamal - Barca coach Flick

Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal (C) leaves the Theatre du Chatelet after receiving the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player during the 2025 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony in Paris on September 22, 2025. (FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal will be driven to greater heights after being beaten to the Ballon d'Or by Ousmane Dembele, the club's coach Hansi Flick said Wednesday.

The 18-year-old winger finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain attacker Dembele at the glitzy gala in Paris on Monday in the battle to be crowned the world's best player, but won the Kopa Trophy for best young player.

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