Barcelona’s Rising Star Lamine Yamal Shines Bright in Champions League Performance

The 17-year-old experience, Lamine Yamal, showcased his remarkable skill throughout an electrifying match versus Inter Milan in the Champions League today. His amazing screen has actually taken the football world by storm, as he continues to show his unrelenting ability on the pitch. With this current efficiency, Yamal has actually now attained a considerable turning point of 100 looks for FC Barcelona, contributing an outstanding tally of 55 objectives and helps. Last summer season, he played an essential function in assisting Spain safe and secure triumph at Euro 2024, additional developing himself as one of the most appealing young skills in the sport.

Cristiano Ronaldo at 17 years of ages: 19 looks, 5 objectives, 4 helps.

Lionel Messi at 17 years of ages: 9 looks, 1 objective, 0 helps.

Lamine Yamal at 17 years of ages: 100 looks, 22 objectives, 33 helps. pic.twitter.com/1NOaeZTdZ7

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 30, 2025

Although Yamal will not commemorate his 18th birthday up until this summer season, he is currently considered among the elite skills in worldwide football. His extraordinary efficiency has actually stimulated discussions about the capacity for him to end up being the youngest-ever recipient of the distinguished Ballon d’Or award. In light of this, we take a closer take a look at the 5 youngest gamers to have actually ever won this well-regarded honor.

Explore the Five Youngest Players to Ever Win the Ballon d’Or

5. Oleg Blokhin – The Trailblazer at 23 Years, 1 Month, and 25 Days (1975)

Oleg Blokhin sculpted his name into football history as the very first Ukrainian to win the Ballon d’Or in 1975, an accomplishment that was attained after he moved Dynamo Kyiv to an extraordinary treble. Blokhin contributed in Dynamo’s success, leading the charge in the Soviet Top League while likewise adding to triumphes in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

The famous gamer, who is likewise the leading scorer of the Soviet Top League and the Soviet Union nationwide group, thrived over football giants Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff to declare the 1975 Ballon d’Or.

4. George Best – The Icon of Football at 22 Years, 7 Months, and 2 Days (1968)

George Best was granted football’s greatest specific honor in 1968, ending up being the very first gamer under the age of 23 to get the distinguished Ballon d’Or. His stunning efficiencies were essential as Manchester United attained the historical turning point of ending up being the very first English club to win the European Cup. This triumph came a years after the awful Munich Air Disaster, and Best played a vital function in motivating the Red Devils together with legends Bobby Charlton and Denis Law.

The trio, called the club’s ‘Holy Trinity,’ all declared the Ballon d’Or in between 1964 and 1968, with Best winning it in the 1967/68 season after netting an outstanding 32 objectives throughout all competitors. This tally consisted of a remarkable objective in the thrilling 4-1 extra-time triumph over Benfica in the European Cup last.

3. Lionel Messi – The Maestro at 22 Years, 5 Months, and 7 Days (2009)

Lionel Messi holds the amazing record for the most Ballon d’Or triumphes, with his very first award can be found in 2009 when he was simply 22 years and 5 months old. That year, Messi contributed in leading FC Barcelona to a historical treble, strengthening his location amongst football’s elite. His shift into a main function led to a remarkable 38 objectives throughout all competitors, as he formed a deadly collaboration with Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, jointly adding to an amazing century of objectives.

Messi eventually outshined the previous year’s winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, and his Barcelona colleague Xavi, protecting his very first Ballon d’Or triumph in an awesome vote.

Leo Messi masterclass #OnThisDay in 2009 versus Lyon…#UCL #MondayMotivation @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/TDE5y9KNG5

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2019

2. Michael Owen – England’s Hope at 22 Years and 4 Days (2001)

Michael Owen made history by ending up being just the 4th English gamer to win the Ballon d’Or, attaining this honor simply 4 days after turning 22. His journey started as an 18-year-old, where he ended up 4th in the ballot following an excellent breakout season at Liverpool, where he clinched the Premier League’s Golden Boot.

Three years later on, Owen led the Reds to an impressive cup treble under the management of Gerard Houllier. During the exciting 2000/01 season, he discovered the back of the net 28 times throughout all competitors, assisting Liverpool raise the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup.

2⃣ objectives
5⃣ minutes

That’s all it considered @themichaelowen to win @LFC the 2001 FA Cup Final #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/DEDwQ1yDym

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 14, 2020

Owen’s essential contributions consisted of scoring in a thrilling UEFA Cup last versus Alaves and netting 2 important objectives late in the FA Cup last versus Arsenal, showcasing his status as a game-changer. He made history as the very first English gamer based in the Premier League to win the distinguished Ballon d’Or throughout this age.

Iconic Moments: The ‘Michael Owen FA Cup Final’ Performance

1. Ronaldo Nazario – The Prodigy at 21 Years, 3 Months, and 5 Days (1997)

Ronaldo Nazario happily holds the title of the youngest-ever winner of the Ballon d’Or. His marvelous scoring capability started throughout his time at Cruzeiro, which was followed by an effective stint at PSV Eindhoven, where he netted a shocking 54 objectives in simply 57 looks. Subsequently, Barcelona made history by breaking the world transfer record to obtain the forward.

Known as O Fenômeno, Ronaldo charmed throughout his time at Barcelona, leading them to an impressive cup treble. He scored an impressive 47 objectives in 49 video games throughout the 1996/97 season, assisting Barcelona declare the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

After this excellent season, another world-record transfer was made as Ronaldo transferred to Inter Milan, ending up being the very first gamer given that Diego Maradona to break the transfer record two times. Following a marvelous start in Italy, he was granted the record-breaking 1997 Ballon d’Or and later on won the award for a 2nd time, leading Brazil to triumph in the 2002 World Cup.

Read – Reflecting on Ronaldo Nazario’s Historic Ballon d’Or Win at Age 21

See more – The Premier League Players Who Have Won the Ballon d’Or

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