Lamine Yamal has 'something only a Ballon d'Or winner has' as Barcelona president says award should go to 'genius' teenager

Barcelona president Laporta has publicly backed the Spanish sensation Yamal to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, declaring the 18-year-old “a genius” who possesses “something only a Ballon d’Or winner has.” Barca, who claimed a domestic treble last season under Hansi Flick, have four nominees for the men’s award in Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, but they face stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and others. 

Laporta has made no secret of who he believes should lift the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Speaking after the Joan Gamper Trophy on TV3, the club chief hailed the prodigy as the standout figure in a star-studded squad and insisted the teenager has the traits of a future winner:"The one who remains at Barca and will continue to be the team's big star is Lamine, who put in another exhibition. I think the Ballon d'Or has to go to a Barca player. We have four nominees. Lamine is at the level of a genius and he shows it in every game. He has something that only those who win the Ballon d'Or do, which is that he gives everything in training. He plays the way he trains and he gets better and better every time. I hope the Ballon d'Or goes to Barca."

Yamal has been central to the club’s recent success, but he faces tough competition with French hero Dembele boasting better goal contribution and conversion stat. While Barca’s strong winning campaign underlines their credentials,  PSG’s Champions League victory could be noted to give their players a clear edge in the race for football’s most prestigious individual honour.

Barca begin their La Liga title defence on Saturday away to Mallorca, likely without injured striker Robert Lewandowski. In the next three months, Yamal will continue to build his Ballon d’Or case, while team-mates Pedri and Raphinha push their own claims. The Catalan club’s early-season form could prove decisive in swaying voters before the September 22 awards ceremony in Paris, where the winner will be announced.