Lamine Yamal tipped to eclipse Messi’s Ballon d’Or haul

Lamine Yamal: Barcelona’s New No.10 Takes Center Stage

Lamine Yamal has barely left his teenage years, yet the Barça prodigy is already rewriting expectations. Emerging from La Masia’s famed conveyor belt—just like Lionel Messi before him—the winger helped the Blaugrana capture a domestic treble and Spain secure European Championship glory. On 13 July, his 18th birthday, he will sign a bumper extension and inherit the iconic No.10 shirt, cementing his status as the club’s next standard-bearer.

PlayStation Skills and Sky-High Ambition

Ex-Barça midfielder Emmanuel Petit likens watching Yamal to “playing on a PlayStation”; every feint, shimmy and burst of pace seems coded for highlight reels. The Frenchman believes the forward’s hunger for greatness explains his quest for the No.10 jersey—and, ultimately, the Ballon d’Or. Messi’s record eight trophies stand as Yamal’s stated target, and Petit insists the teenager’s ceiling “could become even higher.”

Breaking Records Before Adulthood

Yamal is already the youngest scorer in multiple competitions and the first 17-year-old to start—and dominate—a Champions League knockout tie. Scouts rave about his balance of flair and end product: 20 goals and 14 assists last term across all competitions underline substance behind the spectacle.

What Comes Next?

With Ousmane Dembélé leading the early chatter for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Yamal remains an outside bet. Yet another double-digit goal campaign and deep Champions League run could force voters’ hands sooner than expected.

An Early Verdict on Lamine Yamal

If maturity, imagination and competitive fire are any guide, Barça’s new No.10 looks ready to chase—not merely equal—Messi’s golden legacy. The journey promises to be irresistible viewing.