Later this month, France Football will announce the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is among the nominees. If he claims the prize, the 18-year-old would shatter the record as the youngest winner in history — a mark currently held by Ronaldo Nazario, who captured the award in 1997 at the age of 21.
The Barcelona forward has received widespread support to lift the trophy, though former teammate Ousmane Dembele stands as one of his main rivals. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Yamal shared that while winning would be unforgettable, missing out would not derail his ambitions.
“Taking the Ballon d’Or at 18 would be incredible,” he said. “But if it doesn’t happen this time, I’ll keep pushing to get better every day. It’s a dream, of course, and one of the biggest honors a footballer can receive. If I win, I’ll celebrate with my family and friends — they’ve been with me through everything.”
Assessing Barcelona’s chances in Spain and Europe
During the same interview, Yamal reflected on how Barcelona measure up against La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. He believes the title race will ultimately depend on his own team’s consistency.
“They are very competitive teams, but if we do our job well, it’s in our hands,” he explained.
Looking ahead to the Champions League, the young star mentioned the challenge posed by Europe’s top sides. He pointed to Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain as the usual contenders, warning that any slip in concentration could prove costly. “We need to stay focused and be more consistent,” he added.
World Cup ambitions with Spain
Yamal is expected to play a key role for Spain at next summer’s World Cup and revealed that lifting the trophy with La Roja would be the pinnacle of his career.
“Winning a World Cup is every footballer’s dream,” he said. “It would be something historic, but we have to go step by step with humility — while knowing we are capable of achieving it.”
