Barca Universal
·8 juillet 2025
Real Madrid legend backs Barcelona wonderkid to win multiple Ballon d’Ors – ‘Let him enjoy’

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Yahoo sportsBarca Universal
·8 juillet 2025
Barcelona’s non-participation in the FIFA Club World Cup is indeed a blessing in disguise ahead of next season, for the players are having a much-needed reset before the start of a new and hectic season.
Concurrently, however, it has also proven to be a disadvantage for the players who were in the running for various individual awards, for their accolades and form will now be forgotten and overshadowed by the performances in the novel event.
One player whose chances at history take a blow, needless to say, is Lamine Yamal, who was a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or but may well now miss out owing to recency bias.
Speaking to the media in a recent interview, Real Madrid and France legend Claude Makelele was asked about the Ballon d’Or for this year and who he saw as the frontrunner.
The underlying question, needless to say, revolved around his preference between Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele.
Lamine Yamal is a contender for the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
The legend, however, made his pick, choosing the PSG star and stating that Yamal will win many more in the future.
“Right now, I would give this Ballon d’Or to Dembele, because Lamine still has to be given time,” he began.
“We have to let him succeed in his football, in his talent, because he will win more than one Ballon d’Or,” he added.
He then went on to provide advice on how Barcelona must allow the youngster to flourish unhindered.
“[Do] not crush him, let him enjoy, he is a child.”
Yamal is currently on vacation and will link up with Hansi Flick for pre-season training on Sunday. Set to take on Barcelona’s No. 10 shirt, it will be a massive season for the youngster.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
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