Experts consider Lamine Yamal, alongside Ousmane Dembele, one of the top two contenders for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. The Spanish forward affirmed every player's desire for the award. He expressed his hope to win this year and his pride in competing at the age of 18.

When asked who he would choose if he didn't win, Yamal replied, "Neymar and Messi. I want Neymar to win at least one Ballon d'Or. He deserves it for his time at Barca and PSG. I would also give it to Messi, because he is clearly the best player in history,".

Yamal celebrates during Barca's 1-1 draw with Rayo in La Liga on 31/8. Photo: Reuters

Yamal celebrates during Barca's 1-1 draw with Rayo in La Liga on 31/8. Photo: Reuters

Neither Neymar nor Messi are among the 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, due to being past their peak performance. Neymar currently plays for Santos in Brazil, while Messi plays for Inter Miami in the US.

Neymar, who held the world's most expensive player record since 2017, has never won a Ballon d'Or. His highest ranking was third in 2015 and 2017. Meanwhile, Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d'Ors, winning in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Last season, Lamine Yamal made a significant breakthrough at the club level. The 18-year-old forward scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 matches for Barca, reaching double digits in both statistics for the first time, while helping Barca win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. His achievements and influence were second only to Dembele, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup with PSG. France Football will announce the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner at a ceremony in Paris on 22/9.

Barca's start to the 2025-2026 season has been less than stellar. They beat Mallorca 3-0 and Levante 3-2 before drawing 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano. Yamal contributed two goals in these three matches. The Spanish forward admitted the team hadn't reached the same intensity as at the end of the previous season. However, he emphasized gaining all seven points away from home, where the pitches are often in poor condition to counter Barca's style.

"We are making a lot of mistakes, but it's not because of individual egos. We need to regain our form soon," Yamal added.

During the summer, Yamal faced scrutiny for visiting Neymar in Brazil, rumors about relationships with several girlfriends, and criticism for hiring little people to perform at his birthday party. Yamal stated that most of the rumors were fabricated and he wanted to distance himself from them. "I only listen to the people involved because they truly understand everything and know what is important," he said.

Yesterday, Lamine Yamal also launched his personal logo in collaboration with Adidas. The logo combines his initials, his left foot controlling the ball, and the number 304, the postal code of the Rocafonda district. It also draws inspiration from the octagonal architecture characteristic of Barcelona.

Lamine Yamal's personal logo. Photo: X

Lamine Yamal's personal logo. Photo: X

Yamal posted the logo on social media with a video showcasing the concept. In the video, the Barca talent sketches the design using an almost entirely manual process. "This logo means a lot to me because it combines who I am, where I come from, and how I play," he shared.

Lamine Yamal was born in Barcelona in 2007 to a family of Moroccan immigrants. He grew up in the Rocafonda district, which has a large immigrant population.

In 2/2024, he signed a 10-year endorsement deal with Adidas. The total value of the contract is 34 million USD, a significant amount for a 16-year-old player at the time.

Thanh Quy (according to AS)