Ballon d’Or: Barcelona icon suggests unexpected contender for the 2025 accolade.

In a dazzling display of talent, Lamine Yamal has once again captured the attention of football fans worldwide, scoring a stunning goal for Barcelona that has left spectators in awe. The young forward, hailed as a “genius” by the club’s sporting director and former player Deco, is now being touted as a potential contender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

Should Yamal clinch the accolade in Paris on September 22, he would make history as the youngest player ever to do so. However, the competition is fierce, with former Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele emerging as a strong rival. Dembele’s impressive performances have been instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League triumph, placing him firmly in the running for the coveted prize.

While Yamal’s teammate Pedri has enjoyed a commendable season, he has not been widely regarded as a frontrunner for the award. On the other hand, Portuguese midfielder Vitinha has seen his profile rise significantly following PSG’s success in Europe.

Deco expressed his delight at seeing Barcelona back in contention for individual accolades, although notable names such as Kylian Mbappe, Mo Salah, Nuno Mendes, and Raphinha were absent from his shortlist.

Yamal’s statistics speak volumes about his impact on the pitch, with an impressive tally of 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 appearances during the 2024/25 season. His contributions were pivotal in Barcelona’s La Liga triumph and their journey to the Champions League semi-finals, where he shone brightly despite the team’s exit at the hands of Internazionale.

The last Barcelona player to win the Ballon d’Or was Lionel Messi in 2019, who claimed his sixth title. Although Messi won again in 2021, he was representing PSG at that time after his departure from the Catalan giants.

Deco, a former Ballon d’Or runner-up himself in 2004, drew parallels between Yamal and footballing legends like Messi and Ronaldinho. He remarked, “What geniuses have in common is that they see what others don’t, and Lamine has that.”

Backing Yamal for this year’s award is Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who expressed a desire to play alongside the young star at Barcelona. Rashford stated, “If you look at it just from football ability I think he has to win. But then if you look at Dembele with the Champions League win..it depends how you see it. I wouldn’t be disappointed whichever of them won.”

As the Ballon d’Or approaches, all eyes will be on Yamal, whose extraordinary talent continues to mesmerise fans and pundits alike.