The 2025 Ballon d’Or debate wasn’t about football, it was about hype.

In this episode, we unpack why fans were desperate for Lamine Yamal to win, how Barcelona’s marketing machine amplified the story, and how Raphinha’s world-class season got buried beneath the noise.

We’re asking the real question: Do fans still care about performance — or just the fairytale?

Listen as we break down:

- Why Yamal’s hype went too far

- The overlooked brilliance of Raphinha

- How social media shapes football awards

- The danger of “aura” over achievement

👉 Subscribe for more honest football analysis, where numbers matter more than narratives.

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YouTube: / @theshaftpodcasts. .

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Appreciations for this Episode:

Host: Andy Terku

Video Production: Andrews Terkpertey

Video Editing: Samuel Okuadjo

Timestamps:

00:00–01:50 | The Rise of Lamine Yamal

01:51–06:20 | When Narrative Beats Performance

06:21–07:41 | The Real Ballon d’Or Question