Lamine Yamal sets his sights on the Ballon d'Or.

18/08/2025 21:01:00 ScoreStream

Even though he didn’t give his all due to the heat, Lamine Yamal still shone brightly, leaving a mark as he aims for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and showcasing his leadership and composure.

Son Moix was filled with new beginnings on the season’s opening day. It was Lamine Yamal’s first official match since turning 18—a coming-of-age moment that also marked his debut in Barcelona’s iconic number 10 shirt. Like the youngster who stunned the world last season, he continues to amaze everyone with his spontaneity and brilliance.

Taking over the number 10 jersey from Ansu Fati, who moved to Monaco, Lamine Yamal faced plenty of pressure. As he himself has said, he left that pressure somewhere in a park near his childhood home when he was very young. On the pitch, Yamal proves this: despite the expectations that come with the legendary number 10, he plays with the same joy and innocence as when he was on the small pitch in Rocafonda or the artificial turf at Joan Gamper’s training center.

Though only 18, he already dreams of the Ballon d'Or crown. Yamal has never hidden this ambition, and he’s also set his sights on winning the Champions League and World Cup in 2026. Once again, Lamine demonstrated he’s capable of pursuing these lofty goals with his performance against Mallorca.

Without needing to sprint, Lamine was still the decisive factor: he assisted Raphinha for the opener and capped off the win with a memorable goal in Messi-like fashion, curling a left-footed shot into the top corner past Leo Roman after dribbling past three Mallorca players.

Yamal remains a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or.

That fantastic goal came just after a heated collision with Salas. Instead of shrinking back, the new number 10 found extra motivation—not only to affirm his new status, but also to prove that come September 22, he has the resolve to step up and claim football’s highest individual honor in Paris: the Ballon d'Or from France Football and UEFA.

With Robert Lewandowski out injured, Lamine teamed up with Raphinha—his ideal partner—to make a difference. In the seventh minute, Yamal delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, allowing the Brazilian star to easily finish and open the scoring. It was almost a repeat of last season’s goal from the same duo, when Raphinha scored in a 5-1 win.

Last season, Lamine assisted with the outside of his foot; this time, it was a precise side-footed pass. Either way, the ball reached Raphinha perfectly in stride, and the former Leeds United player simply finished into the net.

Another sign of "LY10’s" leadership: he stepped up to take his first ever direct free kick for Barca. Though it seemed a small detail, it carried great significance for a “captain” who had just celebrated his 18th birthday.

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