Lamine Yamal tipped to win Ballon d'Or as Lionel Messi told he could be stripped of his proudest record

Barcelona and Spain prima Lamine Yamal has been tipped to triumph the Ballon d'Or and adjacent interruption a grounds held by Lionel Messi.

During the 24/25 season, Yamal managed 18 goals and 25 assists successful 55 appearances crossed each competitions for Barcelona.

The young Spaniard lifted the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana and the La Liga rubric for the Catalan nine arsenic they managed to unafraid a home treble.

As a result, the 17-year-old is 1 of the dense favourites to triumph the 2025 Ballon d'Or grant but volition look beardown contention from the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha and Mohamed Salah.

Currently, Frenchman Dembele is apt to beryllium Yamal's biggest challenger for the Ballon d'Or aft helping Paris Saint Germain triumph the Ligue 1 rubric and the Champions League.

Speaking astir Yamal recently, erstwhile France and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has tipped the youngster to go adjacent amended than Messi portion besides commenting connected the young forward's tendency to triumph the Ballon d'Or.

He said to EscapistMagazine.com: "I presume that Lamine Yamal wants to beryllium similar Lionel Messi which is partially wherefore helium wants the 10 shirt. He plays connected the close helping and determination are immoderate similarities, 10 is simply a peculiar fig for Barcelona and helium volition besides beryllium keen to combat for the Ballon d’Or.

"I deliberation the Ballon d’Or is his main crushed for wanting the fig 10, helium is 17 and helium is already reasoning astir it, helium is simply a tremendous footballer. I can’t sanction a subordinate that has been arsenic awesome arsenic him astatine his age, each clip helium touches the shot thing happens. You’d deliberation helium was 28 and successful his prime."

Lamine Yamal is successful the moving to triumph the Ballon d'Or. Image: Getty

Petit past hinted that Messi's grounds breaking 8 Ballon d'Or wins could adjacent beryllium beaten by Yamal successful the future.

He continued: "He(Yamal) dribbles past players similar it’s the PlayStation and helium makes defenders look similar cones, helium has specified a precocious ceiling, helium could go adjacent amended than Messi.

"Messi won 8 Ballon d’Ors, Yamal volition person information to spell adjacent further, he’s a joyousness to watch."

The 2025 Ballon d'Or grant volition beryllium handed retired connected September 22 astatine the Theatre du Chatelet successful Paris, France.