To win the Ballon d’Or at the age of 18 years would be ‘something incredible’ – Lamine Yamal

Spanish international Lamine Yamal has admitted that claiming the Ballon d’Or later this month would be the pinnacle of an “incredible” journey—but the 18-year-old insists he will continue striving for greatness even if he falls short.

The Barcelona forward, of Moroccan heritage, enjoyed a remarkable 2024/25 season, registering 18 goals and 25 assists across all competitions.

Should he secure football’s most prestigious individual honour on September 22 at Paris’ Theatre du Châtelet, Yamal would become the youngest ever recipient, surpassing Ronaldo Nazario’s longstanding record.

Despite the prospect of making history before turning 19 next July, Yamal remains focused on continued growth following a season that saw him help Barcelona clinch the La Liga title.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he reflected: “Winning the Ballon d’Or at 18 would be something incredible, but if it doesn’t happen now, I’m going to keep working to improve every day. That’s how it is. Of course, it would be a dream. The Ballon d’Or is one of the greatest awards a footballer can receive. If it happens, I would celebrate it with my family and friends—they have always been by my side.”

Yamal faces stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé, who starred in PSG’s European triumph last season.

The Frenchman’s resurgence since leaving Barcelona, highlighted by 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances, has positioned him as a strong favourite for the award.

Looking ahead, Yamal hopes the 2025/26 season could be even more fruitful, with the possibility of international glory at next summer’s World Cup with Spain.

Already capped 23 times, he has scored six goals and provided 12 assists for La Roja, demonstrating a focus on team success over individual accolades.

“Winning a World Cup is the dream of any footballer,” Yamal said. “It would be something historic, but we have to go step by step with humility, knowing that we can achieve it.”