Félix names his favourite for the award

João Félix, who scored the winning goal for Portugal against Wales in the Nations League yesterday (24 September), has given his verdict on who should win this year’s Ballon d'Or.

The 26-year-old Portuguese star, who currently plays as a forward for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, received his first and only nomination for the award in 2019, the same year he was also nominated for the Young Male Player of the Season award.

Last year, he joined Al-Nassr, where he plays alongside his national team-mate and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. In his first season at the club, he was named Saudi Pro League Player of the Season, with impressive statistics: 20 goals and 13 assists.

Félix was not among this year’s 30 nominees, but several of his national team-mates were: Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha.

Even so, Félix did not let patriotism influence his choice and named the player he considers deserving of this year’s award: Lamine Yamal.

“If there’s one player who makes you sit in front of the TV and stare at the screen in awe, that player is Lamine Yamal.” – João Félix

In his own words: “I’ve always believed that the ‘Ballon d’Or’ should go to the player you look at and think: this is a star, someone who deserves to have their name immortalised in football. And if there’s one player who makes you sit in front of the telly and stare at the screen, that player is Lamine Yamal. It’s true that Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane had an excellent season, but Lamine is football personified. What’s more, he won the World Cup, and in World Cup years, winning the title is extremely important in terms of getting even closer to the ‘Ballon d’Or’.” (GOAL)

Yamal is a strong contender for the award

At just 19 years old, Yamal has already received three nominations for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ and finished last year as runner-up, behind only Ousmane Dembélé.

He has also won the Young Male Talent of the Season award twice at the ceremony.

Last season was arguably the best of his career: he won two titles with Barcelona (La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup), as well as the World Cup with the Spanish national team.

During that period, he scored 31 goals and provided 34 assists for club and country, as well as earning a nomination for this year’s ‘Ballon d'Or’.

The partnership between Félix and Yamal at Barcelona

Many people will recall that Félix played alongside Yamal a few years ago, during the 2023–24 season.

It was the year that Yamal, then aged 16, made his professional debut for the club’s first team, and also the year that Félix, then aged 23, joined Barcelona on loan from Atlético Madrid.

Together, they scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists for Barça that season.

It is worth noting that it was Félix who came off the bench to provide the assist for Yamal’s goal in Barcelona’s 2–0 victory over Osasuna in the semi-final of the 2024 Spanish Super Cup.

At the World Cup, friendship gave way to rivalry

As well as that season, Félix and Yamal also played together in this year’s European Championship, but on opposing sides: Félix representing Portugal and Yamal representing Spain.

In the end, it was the Spanish who knocked Portugal out and went on to win the tournament.

Now, Félix wants to see the player who knocked his national team out of the World Cup rewarded for his incredible season with football’s highest honour.

Yamal could break a historic record

Such a win would make Yamal the youngest winner in the award’s history, breaking the record held by Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who was 21 years and 96 days old when he received his first Ballon d'Or in 1997.

On the day of this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, Yamal will be 19 years and 105 days old.

Could this be his year?

We’ll find out on 26 October in London.