Lamine Yamal boosts Ballon d’Or case with remarkable finish at Mestalla

Lamine Yamal strengthened his claim in the Ballon d’Or race with a spectacular goal for Barcelona against Valencia at Mestalla, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Dimitrievski from an almost impossible angle.

The 19-year-old Spain winger produced the moment during a strong opening spell for Barcelona, receiving a precise pass from team-mate Fermin Lopez before finishing with his left foot.

Lopez lifted the ball over the Valencia defence towards Yamal, who was making a diagonal run into the area. Yamal then met the pass and sent a delicate effort over Dimitrievski, creating a finish that immediately attracted attention.

The goal gave Barcelona the lead and added further weight to Yamal’s growing reputation, with the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London only a few weeks away.

Yamal appeared to have scored again less than 10 minutes later, but the second goal was ruled out after a review by the video assistant referee. His foot was judged to be marginally ahead of Valencia’s last defender, with the offside decision decided by only a very small distance.

That meant Yamal was denied a second goal in quick succession, although his start at Mestalla still underlined the form he has been enjoying. He had found the net twice in a short period, with one effort allowed to stand and the other cancelled out by VAR.

The performance continued an impressive recent run for Yamal, who has now scored three goals in his past two Barcelona matches. He had previously scored twice against Rayo Vallecano in the previous round of La Liga.

Those goals have strengthened his position among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or, with Yamal continuing to make a significant impact for Barcelona despite his age.

His finish against Valencia was particularly notable for its execution. The pass from Fermin Lopez gave him the opportunity, but Yamal still had to control the ball and find a way past Dimitrievski while approaching from a difficult angle.

The goal also provided another example of the attacking threat he offers from the wing. His diagonal movement created space beyond the Valencia defence, while his left-footed finish turned a searching pass into one of the standout moments of the match.

Yamal’s second effort was eventually ruled out, but the decision did not diminish the strength of his opening contribution. With the Ballon d’Or announcement approaching, his latest display gave the teenager another opportunity to make his case.