GOAL Indeed, Yamal's prodigious talent has already provoked predictions that the winger anointed Lionel Messi's heir - even by the man himself - might even surpass the Argentine's historic haul of eight Ballons d'Or.
And that got everyone at GOAL thinking about who might challenge Yamal for the title of the world's best player over the next decade.
Below, we've tried to predict the next 10 recipients of the trophy based on talent, upcoming tournaments and even a few hypothetical transfers...
Getty ImagesYamal is being widely tipped to go one better next year and take home the Ballon d'Or for 2026. However, several superstar strikers, including Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe have made strong starts to the new season - and all three play for countries with a real shot at World Cup glory next summer.
Yamal does, too, of course, but we've got a sneaking suspicion that Mbappe will finally lift the Ballon d'Or after winning a second consecutive European Golden Shoe with a resurgent Real Madrid and becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer.
Getty Images SportDespite a decade of sustained excellence, Mohamed Salah has never even made the Ballon d'Or podium, with this year's fourth-placed finish representing his best-ever result in the voting.
However, we're predicting (hoping) that one of the most under-valued players in world football finally gets his flowers in 2027 at the age of 35, after enjoying a successful final season at Liverpool and winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Getty Images SportThere hasn't been an English winner of the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001 but if football finally goes 'home' at Euro 2028, you can be sure that a member of the triumphant Three Lions squad will claim the prize.
Kane is likely to be over the hill at that point but both Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer should be in their prime - and we reckon the Ballon d'Or will go to whichever one of those two top talents wins the battle for England's No.10 shirt.
After all, we know that both are very popular with the voters. Bellingham managed to finish above Fabian Ruiz this year despite an underwhelming, injury-affected campaign, while Palmer ranked eighth despite going missing for half of the 2024-25 campaign!
Getty Images SportIf Erling Haaland had fired Real Madrid to a treble in 2023 rather than Manchester City, would he have won the Ballon d'Or? You'd have to say yes - and that's why we believe the big No.9 will eventually move to the Santiago Bernabeu in order to realise his dream.
Despite strong competition from Mbappe (moved back onto to the wing to accommodate Haaland up front and take the place of the Saudi Arabia-bound Vinicius Junior on the left), the Norwegian No.9 will win a first Ballon d'Or thanks to the most prolific season of his career - and the support of the Madrid media machine.
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Getty ImagesThe World Cup will no doubt have a major bearing on the Ballon d'Or - as it so often does - and with the 2030 tournament being played in Morocco, Portugal and Spain, we're looking mainly at players from those three countries here.
It would obviously be a great thing for defenders if the outstanding Achraf Hakimi were to triumph but, knowing the voters, that's just not going to happen.
Midfielders obviously have more of a chance, as underlined by the recent wins for Luka Modric and Rodri, so the likes of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Pedri are undoubtedly in with a chance.
But it's impossible to look past the electrifying Yamal, who should light up a World Cup on home soil and belatedly take home his first Ballon d'Or.
Getty Images SportAfter finally getting his hands on a first Ballon d'Or, Yamal makes it two in a row after inspiring Barcelona to Champions League glory.
We expect Pedri to be in the running too but, much like his predecessors Xavi and Andres Iniesta before him, the midfielder will probably have to get used to being pipped to the game's top individual honours by a Barcelona team-mate blessed with a heavenly talent.
Getty ImagesBy this particular point in time, we imagine that Desire Doue will be the only legitimate challenger for Yamal's title as the world's best player.
We also think that the Euro 2032 final will feature France and Spain and that Doue will reproduce the magic we saw in Munich earlier this year to not only get to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy but also the Ballon d'Or later in the year.
AFPYamal will reassert his dominance by inspiring Barcelona to another Champions League victory. In doing so, the Spaniard will move level with Ballon d'Or legends Marco van Basten, Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini with three wins.
AFPWhen the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia gets under way, Yamal will still be only 26 years of age - which is just ridiculous.
As long as he's avoided serious injury, and isn't showing any effects of burnout, he'll run riot at another World Cup, which will result in him becoming the first player to win a fourth Ballon d'Or. At this stage, only Messi (eight) and Ronaldo (five) will have more.
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GettyWillian Estevao has long been touted as the new Neymar but the Brazilian winger will end up achieving something his compatriot never did by winning the Ballon d'O after leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid.
Barca icon Yamal will obviously be in the running again but will miss out because of voter fatigue, while Endrick will claim a place on the podium during a new golden age for the Clasico.