The world of football woke up this morning to a new controversy of major proportions.

Just ten minutes before writing these lines, Mounir Nasraoui, father and agent of Lamine Yamal, published a video on his social networks in which he forcefully demands the immediate annulment of the Best Male Player award awarded last night to Ousmane Dembélé during the Globe Soccer Awards 2025 gala held at the luxurious Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.

The statements by the father of the young FC Barcelona star have ignited social networks and radically divided football public opinion in just a matter of minutes.

The gala of the Parisian domain

The Globe Soccer Awards 2025 ceremony had been a historic celebration for Paris Saint-Germain.

After winning the Champions League for the first time in its history (with a resounding 5-0 final against Inter Milan), the national and continental quintuple, and the Ballon d’Or for Ousmane Dembélé, the French club monopolized practically all the important awards:

Best Male Player:Ousmane Dembélé(PSG) Best Midfielder:Vitinha(PSG) Best Emerging Player:Désiré Doué(PSG) Best Coach:Luis Enrique(PSG) Best Sports Director:Luis Campos(PSG) Best President:Nasser Al-Khelaïfi(PSG) Best Men’s Team:Paris Saint-Germain

Dembélé, who had already won the Ballon d’Or and The Best FIFA in 2025, surpassed in the final vote a luxury list that includedKylian Mbappé(Real Madrid),Raphinha(Barcelona),Vitinha(PSG) and preciselyLamine Yamal(Barcelona), who came in fifth position.

Despite not winning the main award, Yamal did not leave empty-handed: he took the prize forBest Forwardof the year and the prestigiousDiego Armando Maradona Award, which recognizes the player with the greatest talent and technical ability on the planet.

The bomba of Mounir Nasraoui

In an almost three-minute video recorded in a visibly indignant tone, Mounir Nasraoui did not skimp on harshness:

«This is an absolute shame. The Best Men’s Player trophy should not be in the hands of Ousmane Dembélé. He has been awarded because he is French, period. His level is far below that of my son.

Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world right now, not just of his generation. If the organizers do not withdraw that award immediately, neither Lamine nor I will ever return to any Globe Soccer Awards gala. It is a question of respect, justice and dignity.

“We are not going to continue participating in a circus where nationality is favored over real talent.”

The message, which already exceeds 4 million views in just over an hour, has been widely shared by Barcelona fans, Catalan media and several former Barça players, while on the Parisian side there is talk of “new tantrum” and “absolute lack of sportsmanship.”

Official response from the CEO

Faced with the avalanche of reactions and the rapid escalation of the conflict,Salim Khalfan Al Raisi, executive director of the Globe Soccer Awards, was forced to issue an official statement mid-morning:

«The Globe Soccer Awards are an international recognition based on a transparent vote carried out by a jury of 28 highly prestigious members (former footballers, coaches and international managers) with 80% weight, complemented by a 20% popular vote.

Ousmane Dembélé was chosen Best Men’s Player by a large majority, reflecting a historic season both individually (Ballon d’Or, The Best, 35 goals and 16 assists) and collectively (Champions League, quintuple). We deeply regret the statements made this morning.

In no case do they question the integrity or transparency of the voting process. The Globe Soccer Awards keep the door open to dialogue with all parties involved, including Lamine Yamal’s entourage, but no trophy will be withdrawn.

“We invite everyone to respect the collective verdict and celebrate the extraordinary quality of two exceptional talents like Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.”

The statement, although firm in defending the record, has not managed to calm spirits.

A rivalry that does not stop

The tension between Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé’s entourage is not new.

Since September 2025, when Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or, leaving Yamal in second position, Mounir Nasraoui has made multiple controversial statements: he spoke of “something very strange”, of “irreparable moral damage” and that “there is no possible comparison” between both players.

The new trophy awarded in Dubai, which once again rewards Dembélé as the best of the year, has been interpreted as a second humiliation by the father of the young Barça player, who at 18 years old is already considered one of the greatest talents in the recent history of football.

Reactions in the football ecosystem

Official silence reigns within Paris Saint-Germain. Ousmane Dembélé, who is on vacation after a grueling season, has not made any statement so far. Sources close to the player indicate that “he is not going to get into unnecessary controversies” and that “he prefers to talk on the field.”

In Barcelona, ​​on the other hand, several media outlets and former players have supported Nasraoui’s position. The newspaper Sport headlined this morning: “How long is this injustice going to continue?”, while some culé fans have started a social media campaign with the hashtag #DevolunElPremioADembélé.

The Globe Soccer Awards, which year after year gain more prestige and global relevance, are now facing one of the biggest image crises in their recent history. The controversy could, paradoxically, give them even greater visibility… although at the cost of a deeper fracture in the football community.

What will happen now?

For the moment, the situation seems stagnant: the organizers maintain their position, Yamal’s father has thrown down the gauntlet and fans on both sides are engaged in an unprecedented war of words.

What is clear is that 2025 has been the year of Ousmane Dembélé in terms of titles and individual recognitions… but also the year in which Lamine Yamal’s shadow has become larger than ever.

The question that everyone is asking now is whether this public confrontation will forever mark the relationship between two of the most talented players of the moment, or if, on the contrary, it will remain just another anecdote in an absolutely unforgettable year of football.

Time (and probably next season) will be the final judge.