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| Lamine Yamal Praised by Jordi Alba as Young Ballon d’Or Contender Ready to Break Ronaldo’s Record. |
When it comes to young talents lighting up the football world, Lamine Yamal is a name you don’t want to miss. The 17-year-old Barcelona starlet keeps impressing football legends, including former Barca great Jordi Alba.
In a recent interview, Alba—now playing for Inter Miami alongside Lionel Messi—expressed his admiration for Yamal’s incredible progress. Alba even went as far as saying Yamal deserves to be considered a serious Ballon d’Or candidate, the most prestigious individual award in football!
“He made his debut for us at Barcelona when he was just 15, if I remember correctly, against Real Betis. Even back then, you could tell he was a different kind of player. Now, he’s grown physically and become a game changer,” Alba said.
“What he’s doing right now is absolutely insane. I honestly think at his age, he deserves to be in the Ballon d’Or conversation,” he added.
Compared to Messi and Ronaldo?
It’s not just Jordi Alba who’s impressed. Inter Miami president David Beckham also praised Yamal, calling him the closest thing he’s ever seen to Lionel Messi at such a young age. That’s pretty huge coming from a football legend!
Talking about Ballon d’Or favorites this year, Yamal faces tough competition. Big names like Raphinha, who’s had a fantastic season, Mohamed Salah from Liverpool, and of course Kylian Mbappé are all in the mix.
However, many of them fell short in the Champions League, which might open the door wider for Yamal. If Paris Saint-Germain manages to win the European trophy, Ousmane Dembélé could also become a serious contender.
On Track to Break the Youngest Ballon d’Or Winner Record
If Yamal wins the Ballon d’Or this year, he’d be the youngest player ever to do so. The current record belongs to Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazario (R9), who won it at 21 years and 96 days old.
Yamal turns 18 on July 13, meaning he could break Ronaldo’s record by several years—a milestone that might stand for a very long time.
Impressive Stats Despite Young Age
Though Yamal hasn’t scored as many goals as Raphinha, his assist numbers are remarkable. Across La Liga and Champions League, he has 16 assists and 14 goals. Unless there’s a surprise in the final match, he’s on track to finish as La Liga’s top assist provider this season.
He also made history by becoming the first player to win La Liga twice before turning 18, and he scored the title-winning goal this season!
Bottom Line: A Bright Future Ahead for This Young Star
What Lamine Yamal is doing at just 17 years old is nothing short of extraordinary. He’s already a key player for Barcelona and in the running for the Ballon d’Or. If he keeps up this level of performance, he could become one of football’s biggest icons in the near future.
Let’s keep an eye on Yamal’s journey—history might just be made by this young prodigy!
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