Rodri predicts Lamine Yamal will win Ballon d’Or soon

Spanish midfielder Rodri has confidently predicted that Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal will claim the Ballon d’Or, declaring the young forward destined for football’s highest individual honor.

Yamal narrowly missed the award previously, finishing second to Ousmane Dembélé, and is expected to be a top contender for the 2026 prize.

Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner who beat Vinicius Jr., spoke directly to DAZN about Yamal’s inevitable rise: “One day he’ll win a Ballon d’Or because he’s an animal.” He emphasized Yamal’s vital importance to Spain, calling him “the present and future of Spanish football”.

Despite the immense pressure surrounding a player of his status, Rodri highlighted Yamal’s impressive maturity: “Players of that calibre, who are unique in the world, will always have media repercussions, for better or for worse. But he’s very mature and very focused about some things for only 18 years old”.

Both players are currently camped together preparing for the 2026 World Cup. However, they may face each other in El Clásico next season, as Rodri remains heavily linked with a blockbuster summer transfer to Real Madrid.