Lamine Yamal Reveals Who He’d Hand the Ballon d’Or to — Messi and Neymar

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has revealed that if he didn’t win the prestigious Ballon d’Or, his votes of honor would go to Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.

Speaking to RTVE (via Barca Universal), the 18-year-old forward described Messi as the greatest footballer of all time, while also lamenting that Neymar — despite his brilliance — never managed to secure the coveted golden ball.

“Neymar and Messi. I would give one [Ballon d’Or] to ‘Ney’, I think he deserves it,” Yamal said.

“The ‘Ney’ who was playing for Barça or Paris at the time would definitely win it [Ballon d’Or] now. I would’ve liked him to have won one. And obviously, Messi because he is the best ever.”

Yamal himself is a strong contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with competition expected from the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, Kylian Mbappé, and Mohamed Salah.

Opinion: A Young Star Who Still Knows His Roots

For a teenager on the brink of football greatness, Yamal’s words show remarkable humility and respect for the legends who came before him. In a football era where young talents often rush to crown themselves, Yamal instead chooses to pay tribute to Messi, his idol, and Neymar, a player whose artistry dazzled a generation but somehow slipped through the cracks of individual recognition.

His comments also spark an age-old debate: should Neymar, one of the most technically gifted players of his generation, have at least one Ballon d’Or to his name? Many fans would agree with Yamal — Neymar, at his peak with Barcelona and PSG, played football at a level worthy of the award.

And then, of course, there is Messi — for whom Yamal’s words echo the sentiments of millions: the best ever. Coming from a player who grew up watching Messi light up the Camp Nou, it’s both a personal homage and a generational truth.

Whether Yamal lifts the 2025 Ballon d’Or or not, one thing is certain: the teenager is writing his own chapter in Barça’s story while never forgetting the giants whose shadows shaped him.