GOAL argued on 25 October that Lamine Yamal deserved the Ballon d'Or being presented that evening. The Ballon d'Or is awarded each year to the footballer who has stood out most over the sporting season.
GOAL's case
GOAL asked who deserves it more than Lamine Yamal. GOAL said Yamal was born in 2007 and was 19 years old.
Honours in the last 12 months
GOAL said Yamal has won, in the last 12 months alone, a second consecutive La Liga title, the Spanish Super Cup and the World Cup with the Spanish national team. GOAL said this year's World Cup was Spain's second in their history.
Records and individual awards
GOAL said Yamal is the second-youngest player to score in Champions League history, behind team-mate Ansu Fati, and the youngest scorer in the history of the Clásico against Real Madrid. GOAL said Yamal won the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player in the world under the age of 21, as its youngest-ever winner, and also won the Golden Boy.
GOAL said Yamal became the youngest footballer to reach 100 appearances for Barcelona, the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final, and the first footballer to win the Kopa award twice.
Messi's words
GOAL said that in 2007 Messi held a newborn baby during a photo shoot at the Camp Nou and that child was Lamine Yamal. GOAL said Messi and Yamal met at the World Cup final in New York, and that Yamal was Messi's opponent in the 2026 World Cup final.
Messi said: "There is a new generation of really strong footballers… but if I have to choose an heir, given his age and the future he could have, it is Lamine Yamal. There is no doubt: for me, he is the best. He reminds me of myself when I was young ."