The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is already generating buzz, and although the winner won’t be announced for weeks, the FC Barcelona dressing room already has a clear favorite: Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old winger has had a spectacular season with the Catalan club, and his teammate Gavi has no hesitation in naming him as the top candidate to claim the prestigious award.

The event will take place on September 22 in Paris, and while several names are in contention, the spotlight is firmly on two players: Ousmane Dembélé, star of Paris Saint-Germain, and Yamal, who has dazzled in Spain with his performances.

Gavi's admiration for Lamine: “He’s incredible”

In a recent interview with As, Gavi was asked who his Ballon d’Or pick was, and he didn’t hesitate to back his young teammate: “I hope he wins. If not this year, I’m sure he will in the future. He’s only 18, he’s incredible in training, and he improves every day,” the midfielder said, clearly impressed with Yamal’s development.

The numbers support his claim. During the 2024-2025 season, Lamine Yamal scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 appearances for Barcelona, helping the club win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. While the team fell short in the Champions League semifinals against Inter Milan, his individual brilliance has placed him among the elite.

Competing with him is Dembélé, who enjoyed a dream season with PSG, lifting four trophies and contributing 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions. The Frenchman is a strong contender and aims to become the first French player to win the Ballon d’Or since Karim Benzema.

Despite the tough competition, Gavi is confident that the future belongs to his teammate: “He just needs to keep that mindset. If he doesn’t win it this year, I’m sure he’ll win many more in the future,” he concluded.

FC Barcelona will return to official action on August 16, visiting Mallorca in their 2025-2026 season opener. It will be another chance for Lamine Yamal to keep making history—and possibly take one step closer to the throne of world football.