The youngest player to ever win the Ballon d’Or was Ronaldo Nazario, who brought home the prestigious award at 21 years and 95 days old. However, that record may go by the wayside if FC Barcelona’s phenom, the 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, manages to take home the award this year.
It’s been an unforgettable year for Barcelona and Lamine Yamal, who’ve won both the Copa Del Rey and La Liga EA Sports, defeating bitter rival Real Madrid four times in the process.
Barcelona lost in the semifinals of the Champions League, but Yamal’s greatness in the tournament was undeniable.
The young star is boasting 17 goals and 25 assists. These numbers, when coupled with his nearly flawless eye test, make it difficult to argue that anyone else is deserving of the title, The Best Player in the World.
However, there are some things that could push back against all of the momentum Lamal has built toward winning the award. For one, Paris Saint-Germain’s Dembele winning the Champions League final against Inter Milan with a strong performance in the final would make him a serious contender to win the award.
Lamine might also suffer from having to split votes with two of his teammates, Raphinha and Pedri, who are both having outstanding seasons in their own right.
However, the bones of the situation are that Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world, and is constantly showing up in the biggest moments, things that should be unfathomable for someone as young as he is.
There’s no reason for the voters to overthink this or vote against what their eyes are telling them. The young Spaniard is the real deal.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. At Next Impulse, Qwame covers sports with the same enthusiasm he brings to his recreational basketball and softball leagues.