On September 28, Gabriel Sans, Barcelona correspondent for Mundo Deportivo, published an opinion piece arguing that Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has every reason to win the Ballon d'Or this year.

His goal at Wembley Stadium, which helped Spain defeat England 3-2 in the Nations League finals, demonstrates that this football prodigy already possesses the caliber to be among the world's elite players. Although this performance fell outside the voting window for the 2024-25 Ballon d'Or, which closed last Monday, its symbolic significance cannot be denied.

At just 19 years old, this Barcelona academy product has shouldered major responsibilities on the pitch typically carried by established superstars. His candidacy stems not only from impressive statistics and significant championship titles, but also from his ability to control the tempo of play, create opportunities, and perform under the highest pressure. Whether wearing Barcelona's blue-and-garnet jersey or representing Spain, his performances have elevated him to another level. In the previous Ballon d'Or voting, he ranked second only to Ousmane Dembélé.

In the 2024-25 season being considered for this award, Yamal helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, with the team reaching the Champions League quarterfinals and Copa del Rey semifinals. In La Liga, he was the primary source of Barcelona's attacking creativity, and his consistency earned him the award for Best Player of the Season. Unlike popular Ballon d'Or candidates such as Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane, Yamal does not rely solely on goal tallies. He combines statistics, contributions, creativity, championship titles, game-changing ability, consistency, and innate talent.

By season's end, Yamal scored 24 goals for Barcelona, setting a new personal record. Notably, he played exclusively as a winger, never as a center forward. In La Liga, he scored 16 goals, equaling his personal league record, and shared the Pichichi Trophy with Ferran Torres. He also provided 11 league assists, leading La Liga in this category. More importantly, his impact was decisive: in 20 of 26 La Liga matches he played, he directly influenced results through goals, assists, or winning penalties.

In the Champions League, Yamal demonstrated exceptional form with 6 goals and 4 assists across 10 appearances. In 8 of these matches, he made a significant impact, consistently threatening opposition defenses. In the Champions League quarterfinals, Barcelona faced a 0-2 home defeat to Atlético Madrid but rallied in the second leg at the Metropolitano, with Yamal scoring to make it 1-2—a performance UEFA itself praised. He subsequently became the youngest player in football history to achieve over 10 goals and 10 assists in a single Champions League season, surpassing Haaland's record. For the entire campaign, his overall statistics were outstanding: 45 appearances, 24 goals, 17 assists, and direct contribution to 41 team goals.

Given his individual performances, team honors, and decisive impact in crucial matches, Yamal leads all Ballon d'Or candidates this year. This season he helped Barcelona claim two trophies—La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup—maintaining success from the previous season, with the team reaching the Champions League final. Most significantly, Yamal led Spain to victory at the World Cup, becoming the first player in football history to win the European Championship and World Cup before turning 20.

Yamal scored his first World Cup goal against Saudi Arabia and earned Man of the Match twice in crucial victories against Austria and Belgium, delivering exceptional performances in key metrics such as shots and dribbles. His value reflects not only his individual ability but his contribution to elevating the team's overall strength—his greatest asset for this year's Ballon d'Or. The Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026, in London, England.

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