Lamine Yamal could achieve Ballon d’Or milestone unmatched by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have undeniably defined the soccer landscape for the past two decades. While both icons continue to showcase their brilliance despite stepping away from the highest levels of competition, the search for their successor has intensified. Among the emerging names, Barcelona’s 17-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal stands out as a generational talent poised to carry the torch.

Yamal has already cemented himself as a critical player for Barcelona in high-stakes matches, surpassing the impact Messi and Ronaldo had at a similar age. If he continues this trajectory, Yamal could break the record for the youngest player ever to win the Ballon d’Or, leaving both Messi and Ronaldo in his wake.

Messi claimed the first of his eight Ballon d’Or awards in 2009 at age 22. Ronaldo secured his inaugural honor a year earlier in 2008 at 23. The youngest-ever recipient of the award, however, remains Ronaldo Nazario, who earned it at just 21 in 1997.

With Barcelona enjoying a remarkable season, Yamal’s chances are bolstered by the team’s collective success. The club has already secured the Copa del Rey after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Real Madrid on April 26. They also lead LaLiga by four points with five matches remaining, positioning them strongly for domestic dominance.

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates after winning the Copa del Rey Final match against Real Madrid. (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The greatest challenge for Barcelona lies in the Champions League. After a dramatic 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of the semifinals at Camp Nou, they face a daunting task in the return leg at the Giuseppe Meazza. A historic treble for Barcelona could virtually cement Yamal’s path to the Ballon d’Or.

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Yamal’s stellar numbers this season

This season, Lamine Yamal has appeared in 49 official matches across LaLiga, the Champions League, Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España. He has tallied 15 goals and 20 assists, contributing directly to 35 goals for the Blaugrana.

Who could challenge Yamal for the Ballon d’Or?

While Yamal is a strong favorite, the race for the Ballon d’Or could hinge on the Champions League outcome. His main competition currently appears to be Ousmane Dembele.

The French winger has revitalized his career under Luis Enrique at PSG, following a lackluster stint at Barcelona. Dembele has scored 29 goals this season across Ligue 1—where PSG has already claimed the title—and the Champions League, where they secured a critical 1-0 win over Arsenal in the semifinal first leg in England.