Atalanta star Ademola Lookman backs Barcelona youngster to win Ballon d'Or in future

Ademola Lookman has backed Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d'Or soon. The 17-year-old joined the club's senior side in 2023 and has since registered 13 goals and 17 assists in 66 games.

In an interview with DAZN, Lookman was asked to pick a player who could win the Ballon d'Or in the future.

"One player who could win the Ballon d'Or in future? Lamine Yamal," he said (via Yahoo Sports).

Pau Cubarsí also made a similar claim about Yamal earlier this month while talking to RAC 1. He said his Barcelona teammate could win the France Football award.

"Now everyone sees what he is, but I've known him for years and I know what he's like. I think he has the ability to win it [Ballon d'Or]. As he is right now, he's at a spectacular level and to have him at that level in our team helps us a lot. He is full of confidence and that makes us happy," Cubarsí said (via ESPN).

Lamine Yamal finished eighth in the Ballon d'Or race this year, as Manchester City's Rodri walked away with the coveted prize. Yamal took home the Kopa Trophy (best young player) and will be aiming for the big award next year.

Alvaro Morata compares Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to Ballon d'or winners

Alvaro Morata spoke to The Athletic earlier this month and suggested that Lamine Yamal was a once-in-a-generation player. He believes the Barcelona star has the talent to become one of the greatest in Spain's history.

"He's got a very determined character. That's hard to find in a person his age. He's got a very clear idea about what he wants to do. He's got a lot of personality and has everything in front of him. Honestly I've never seen anything like it. I've never seen a player like it. One training session was enough to realise he's different, that he's one of the fenomeni," Morata said.

"Every 20 or 30 years, one or two emerge like Cristiano and Messi. For me, he's got everything it takes to make history. I'm convinced that if he doesn't become the greatest player in Spain's history, he'll definitely be one of them. He already made history with us by winning the Euro," he added.

He was 16 when the tournament started and I hope he keeps this up because he's my team-mate, because he can make me win more things with the national team and because my kids want to meet him, get to know him, go watch the games and all that," Morata concluded.

Lamine Yamal is still 17 but has already played over 60 times for Barcelona. The youngster who has been touted to win the Ballon d'Or in the future also has 17 senior caps for Spain (three goals and nine assists).