Lamine Yamal has reportedly prepared a party fit for a prince as he banks on winning the Ballon d’Or tonight.
The Barcelona star, 18, is said to have booked out a snazzy space in Paris to host a mighty Ballon d’Or bash with his near and dear.
He is one of the favourites for football’s top gong alongside Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, and Vitinha.
His father, Mounir Nasraoui, reportedly arrived early to make sure that every aspect of the party is on point for his precocious son.
Yamal could become the youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever, smashing the record held by Ronaldo Nazario, who claimed the prize at 21 in 1997.
Lamine Yamal has reportedly prepared a party at an exclusive Parisian venue in case he wins the Ballon d’Or
Yamal, who won the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21s player last year, is bringing an entourage of 20 decked out in Dolce & Gabbana gear
The favourite to win football’s top prize is Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele
Famed figures such as Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, and Ronaldinho, who is set to present the accolade, are among the luminaries praising the young Spanish talent.
Undoubtedly, he made a compelling case during the standout 2024-25 season, during which he netted 18 goals and delivered 25 assists, contributing to Barcelona’s domestic treble triumph.
This success speaks to his remarkable mental resilience, especially after his father’s life-threatening incident last year, where he was violently attacked while walking his dog just before the LaLiga season began.
Nevertheless, Yamal and his family have pushed through that ordeal, crafting one of football’s most thrilling narratives. His displays against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals, despite Barcelona’s heart-wrenching defeat, underscored his bold talent and poise on the grandest stages.
Yet, he faces formidable competition from Dembele, 28, who unexpectedly delivered a career-best season, propelling Paris Saint-Germain to their inaugural Champions League victory and a domestic sweep.
In a stunning turn, Dembele racked up 35 goals, adding 16 more through assists—nearly matching his combined contributions over the previous three seasons.
In a remarkable spree between December and March, the Frenchman smashed in 24 goals and bolstered his case for the Ballon d’Or.
Salah, while not the favourite, is also in the reckoning after having a better individual season than Dembele with 34 goals and 23 assists.
Mohamed Salah is in the running after leading Liverpool to their second Premier League title
Yamal has many years to earn football’s top prize if he does not achieve his dream tonight
In a phenomenal campaign the 33-year-old broke 11 records, including registering a record 47 goal contributions (29 goals, 18 assists) in a Premier League season.
While he won the Premier League, his case might fall short due to the fact that Liverpool were knocked out of the last 16 in the Champions League and won neither the FA Cup nor the Carabao Cup.
Vincent Garcia, France Football’s editor-in-chief and reputedly the only man who knows who the winner is, explained that a melange of individual and team brilliance is significant.
‘I’m the only one who knows the Ballon d’Or winner,” he told Telefoot.
‘The criteria to win this award are clear: individual brilliance, decisive and unforgettable performances, trophies lifted, plus fair play and conduct on and off the pitch.’
An international jury of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries determines the winner by vote.
Yamal dreams of winning ‘many’ Ballons d’Or, but he has a mountain to climb to achieve Lionel Messi’s tally of eight, or even Cristiano Ronaldo’s sum of five.
