Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has named Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal as one of the leading candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The two players are teammates on the Spanish national team, and Carvajal shared his thoughts in an interview with Cadena SER.
“Yamal could be one of the top contenders for the Ballon d’Or, especially given his age,” Carvajal said. “He’s only 18. When I was 18, I was still playing at Castilla. It’s incredibly hard to stand out in professional football at that age.”
Carvajal added that he won’t be casting a vote for the award. “Since I’m not the captain, I won’t be voting, so I can’t give it to anyone,” he noted.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner will be revealed later this month, with Yamal among the 30 players shortlisted for the prestigious individual honor.





