Barcelona legend explains why Lamine Yamal missed out on Ballon d’Or to Ousmane Dembele - with Xavi telling teenage wonderkid what must happen for Golden Ball win

Yamal is expected to go on and claim plenty in the future, with it being suggested that he could match or eclipse the efforts of fellow La Masia academy graduate Lionel Messi - who has eight Ballons d’Or to his name and is widely considered to be the greatest player ever to lace up a pair of boots.

Time is on Yamal’s side when it comes to achieving such feats, as he is just 18 years of age. He has signed a lucrative new contract at Barcelona and inherited the iconic No.10 shirt that Messi once filled with such distinction. He is already considered to form part of the global elite, with that standing being highlighted in his runner-up finish behind Dembele.

Former Barca player and manager Xavi believes there were a number of contenders to land the Golden Ball in 2025, with Dembele ultimately emerging as a deserving winner. The ex-Spain international told Marca when asked about Yamal missing out: “This time, collective titles weighed more heavily. For me, of course, he deserved it. So did Vitinha, [Mohamed] Salah, Pedri, and Raphinha… many players deserved it. But in the end, titles count more. Lamine will win it, I’m convinced - but when his team wins the Champions League or a World Cup.”

Xavi was the man to hand Yamal his senior debut for Barcelona at 15 years of age. He had been knocking on the door prior to that, with it impossible to limit such potential. The youngster has come a long way in a short space of time, with La Liga and European Championship titles being added to his CV.

Xavi added on helping to put the hottest of prospects on the path to potential greatness: “I feel very proud of what Lamine is doing and of having given him the chance to make his debut. I saw him as very prepared despite being 15. He was very confident, very capable, making a difference in training. He wasn’t afraid of anything. From the very first day, he stood out. For me, he’s one of the chosen ones and can define an era in world football. He has no complexes, no fear whatsoever.”

Barca always expected Yamal to reach the very top of the game, despite being a rough diamond in need of some polishing. Xavi remains convinced that the teenager will win a Golden Ball at some stage.

He added when asked if that standing was clear from day one: “Yes, without a doubt. We said it among the staff - we said he was Ballon d’Or material. Watching him train, you could already see something different. You immediately realised he was one of the chosen ones.”

Yamal is being forced to take in another enforced spell on the sidelines at present. He picked up a groin injury while on international duty in September and, after taking a period of rest, aggravated that when returning to action against Real Sociedad. He will play no part for his country in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria.

It has been claimed that Yamal will be out for “two or three weeks”, with Barca needing to nurse him back to full health. A break in domestic competition will aid that cause, with the reigning La Liga champions playing host to Catalan neighbours Girona on October 18 - with others, such as on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, needing to step up in Yamal’s absence.