Barcelona teenager was ranked highest in Score90’s latest Ballon d’Or power rankings
Lamine Yamal has been rated in some sections as the leading candidate to win the Ballon d’Or this year. According to Score90’s latest rankings, the Barcelona forward is the frontrunner for the 2025 edition of the award, ahead of established older players such as Mohamed Salah, Pedri, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele.
At just 17 years of age, Yamal has already established himself as one of the best footballers in Europe. The teenage sensation dazzled the world in both legs of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan. He also played a key role as Barcelona vanquished fierce rivals Real Madrid four times this season to claim two trophies – and one all but confirmed.
While most players his age are still climbing through youth academies or earning minutes in lower divisions, he has already won the Euros and achieved 100 appearances in a club as demanding as Barcelona.
One of the most influential figures behind Yamal’s career, his agent Jorge Mendes, said: “Lamine deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. He has been the best player in the world this season. That is very clear.
“I hope he will be voted and will win as he’s been just fantastic. It’s also beautiful to see a 17-year-old doing this, it’s good for the future of the game.”
Mendes has represented Cristiano Ronaldo through his five Ballon d’Or triumphs, and is no stranger to what it takes to earn football’s most coveted individual honour.
If Yamal were to win the award, he would become the youngest recipient in history, a record currently held by Ronaldo de Lima, who won it at 21.
