Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old sensation from FC Barcelona, has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to finish in the top 8 of the Ballon d’Or rankings.
In the just concluded 2024 ceremony, he secured an impressive eighth place, surpassing the previous record held by Kylian Mbappé, who finished ninth at a similar age.
This achievement not only highlights Yamal’s remarkable talent but also sets the stage for a promising future in football.
While Messi achieved his first Ballon d’Or nomination at age 22 and went on to win it eight times, Yamal’s early entry into the top ranks suggests he could potentially follow in Messi’s footsteps if he continues to develop at his impressive pace.

Achievements at a Young Age
Yamal’s accolades continue to grow as he was also awarded the Kopa Trophy for being the best player under 21 years old.
His performance during the 2023/24 season was legendary, with 16 goals and 4 assists for Barcelona and a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign, where he scored a crucial goal against France in the semifinals.
This combination of domestic and international success has solidified his reputation as one of football’s brightest young stars.
Performance Comparison with Lionel Messi

Early Career Highlights
Yamal, who debuted for FC Barcelona at just 15 years old, has quickly established himself as a key player.
In his first 75 professional matches, he recorded 14 goals and 23 assists, totaling 37 goal contributions. This performance is notable when compared to Messi’s early career stats.
Messi having scored 22 goals and provided 8 assists, amounting to 30 goal contributions in the same number of appearances.
Yamal’s contributions come at a faster rate, averaging a goal or assist every 126.9 minutes, compared to Messi’s 146.5 minutes during his initial games.
International Success
Yamal’s international career has also been impressive. He became Spain’s youngest male debutant and scorer during a Euro 2024 qualifier, contributing significantly to Spain’s championship victory.
In his first 17 games for Spain, he tallied 3 goals and 9 assists, surpassing Messi’s early international record of 4 goals and 6 assists in the same number of appearances.

Trophies and Recognition
While Yamal has already won the UEFA European Championship with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona, Messi had a more extensive trophy cabinet early in his career, including two La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League title by the time he reached 75 games.
This difference underscores the varying contexts in which both players have emerged, with Messi’s early success setting a high bar.
Lamine Yamal Future Prospects
With three more editions of the Ballon d’Or available for him to compete in, he has a chance to become the youngest winner ever, previously held by Ronaldo at age 21.
Lamine Yamal’s achievements at just 17 years old are remarkable. His trajectory will be closely watched as fans and analysts speculate whether he can maintain his form and continue to break records.

As he becomes a household name in football, comparisons to legends like Messi will only increase.
His journey is just beginning, and if his current form is any indication, he may soon become one of the sport’s leading figures.
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