Luis Figo chooses Lamine Yamal over Messi and Mbappe in Ballon d’Or challenge | OneFootball

Luis Figo has backed Lamine Yamal to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, choosing the Barcelona youngster ahead of Lionel Messi in a final that brought together some of the biggest names in world football.

The former Barcelona player and 2000 Ballon d’Or winner made his selection during a head-to-head challenge featuring several leading contenders. 

Yamal ultimately emerged from a field including Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Rodri.

Figo puts Yamal against some of Europe’s biggest stars

Figo was forced to make a series of quick decisions at the beginning of the challenge. When presented with Messi and Ousmane Dembele, he opted for the Argentine, while Harry Kane advanced ahead of Erling Haaland.

Yamal also received Figo’s backing in his own head-to-head contest, with the Portuguese choosing the Barcelona forward over Rodri.

The former Portugal international then selected Mbappe ahead of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, setting up a pair of intriguing semi-final contests.

Messi was subsequently placed above Kane to secure his spot in the final. The other semi-final proved more difficult, with Figo having to choose between Mbappe and Yamal.

That decision carried particular weight given the two forwards’ standing at Barcelona and on the international stage, but Figo eventually opted for the teenage Barça star.

Yamal beats Messi in Figo’s Ballon d’Or final

Lamine Yamal is favourite to win the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The final therefore produced a generational contest between Messi and Yamal, with the veteran representing one of football’s greatest-ever careers and the Barcelona academy graduate emerging as one of the game’s most exciting young players.

Figo ultimately chose Yamal, pointing to the contrast between Messi’s extraordinary list of previous achievements and the youngster’s future potential.

“Let’s give it to Lamine; Messi’s got plenty already,” said the Portuguese player with a smile, justifying his decision.