Chelsea forward backs Barcelona superstar to win the Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

Barcelona players will be in focus today in the lavish Ballon d’Or gala in Paris, with no less than three Barça players entering the top 10 list.

Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele are among the favourites to win the prestigious trophy.

Heading into this gala, many had predicted Yamal to win the trophy at the age of just 18, owing to his brilliant performances for club and country.

However, both Dembele and Raphinha are equally deserving of the trophy, having enjoyed a spectacular 2024/25 campaign.

Joao Pedro expects Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or

Just hours before the final Ballon d’Or announcement, Chelsea superstar Joao Pedro was asked about his prediction for the winner.

Responding to an Instagram query, the Brazilian didn’t hesitate to name Lamine Yamal, ahead of his compatriot Raphinha.

Courtesy: Instagram/Rising Ballers

Very few would blame Pedro, either, as Yamal is coming on the back of a stellar 2024/25 campaign, where he emerged as a key driver in Barcelona’s growth engine.

Pedro, who joined Chelsea in a move worth over €60 million this summer, may have never faced Yamal. But he is well aware of the youngster’s plaudits for Barça last season.

Interestingly, Pedro has played with Raphinha, another prospective winner of the Ballon d’Or tonight, as they were part of the Brazilian team that faced Bolivia and Chile recently.

Nevertheless, the coming hours promise to be tense for all Barcelona fans as they hope for either Yamal or Raphinha to win the prestigious crown, ahead of former star Dembele.

The Frenchman, though, does make a strong case for the title, having led PSG to a historic treble last season, scoring 33 goals in the process.