FC Barcelona have always been famous for producing some of the world’s best footballing talents. The very best of them is undoubtedly Lionel Messi, and the Argentinian great walked away with an unprecedented legacy at the club. Now, with Messi no longer at Barcelona, the club needed a new face to emerge for the future.
Fortunately, they were blessed enough to have Lamine Yamal be that player for them. Despite having just turned 17 this year during the European Championship, the player is already turning heads all across the world and has become a household name for both club and country.
Ultimately, with a rise this meteoric, it is only natural to see him be linked with the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual award for any footballer. Lionel Messi himself has won it a record eight times, and while that would be a number that would be next to impossible to match for any player, the award itself remains an attainable target for many aspiring football players, including Yamal.
At least, that is what Inigo Martinez seems to think so ahead of the upcoming El Clasico clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Speaking to ‘Movistar+’, as highlighted by SPORT, the Spanish defender spoke about the award and how Vinicius Jr is expected to win it, but also highlighted how a certain Barcelona player is someone who he hopes to see in contention for it soon:
“Whoever wins it will deserve it. We all know who it’s going to. I have no doubt it will be Vinicius… (but) we might have one of our own in the running next time. I wish to see Lamine among the contenders soon.”
As for the clash against Real Madrid, Martinez was clear that the team will be facing an opponent that can hurt Barcelona:
“In front of their fans, they prove they’re a great team, and even if they’re not in top form in terms of play or results, this is Madrid— they can score plenty with very little. You can see it; they can create big problems with the smallest opportunities.”
However, he remains confident in his own abilities and believes that it has been a long time since he has felt this good and physically up for the challenge:
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good physically. I’ve made changes and found the consistency I didn’t have before. I’m enjoying my football.”
With just a little more than 12 hours left to El Clasico, both Barcelona and Real Madrid will be aiming for all three points. At this point of the season, given the gap of only three points separating the two Spanish giants, momentum can be extremely crucial in any shape or form, and winning a Clasico is perhaps the best kind of momentum that there is.