He’s not even 18, but across Spain this morning, there’s only one headline on repeat: Lamine Yamal deserves the Ballon d’Or.
Not someday. Not in a few years. Now.

🌟 “He’s Worth Gold”

In Mundo Deportivo, the headline is loud and clear:

“He’s worth gold.“
No need to say more. After a dazzling brace against France, Yamal lit up the football world. More than a Nations League showdown, it felt like a symbolic duel: Dembélé vs. Yamal. The past against the future? Perhaps. But the present already has a winner.

🔥 A Golden Season

It’s hard to argue with what the Barcelona wonderkid has achieved. Eye-popping stats, growing influence, and—above all—that electrifying feeling that something magical might happen every time he touches the ball. He’s bold. He’s fresh. And he’s already decisive.

“Is there anyone better this season than Lamine?”
— AS asks the question, but most headlines already have the answer.

💥 Mbappé in the Mix? Sure, But…

Spanish media mention Kylian Mbappé—mainly to highlight Yamal’s dominance.
👉 Five head-to-heads this season. Five wins for Yamal.
That alone speaks volumes. And with each match, the kid plays like he’s been here for a decade.

📣 The Press is All In (And They May Be Right)

• 🗞️ Sport: “Lamine of Gold.“
• 🗞️ Marca: “We’ve never had a player like this in Spain.“
• 🗞️ AS: “With a brace, Yamal takes the lead over Dembélé in the Ballon d’Or race.“
• 🗞️ El Chiringuito: “The final blow for gold. Lamine, Ballon d’Or — and now!“
• 🗞️ Cope: “He’ll win several. But not giving him this one would be a mistake.“

🎯 What Comes Next?

Whether Spain’s enthusiasm will be enough remains to be seen. After all, the Ballon d’Or is about more than just highlight reels.
Titles. Trophies. International success. But one thing’s for sure: at just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal is no longer the future.
He’s the now.

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👉 At Globe Strikers, we’re watching the Ballon d’Or race closely—and if a new king is emerging, his name might just be Lamine.