More than a club, Barcelona have proven that their motto remains well and truly alive within the club even today. The Catalan giants are home to several of the best young talents in the world of football. La Masia, Barça’s revered academy, takes much of the credit when it comes to developing these youngsters.
Messi wins yet another Ballon D’or
One of the greatest players that La Masia has ever developed, and is currently among the greatest players to ever grace the sport, is none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine icon and Barcelona legend is a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
Just recently, he won his 8th Ballon d’Or, a feat that is not just unprecedented but was also unimaginable at a point. His win came alongside other awards that FC Barcelona managed to win themselves, including the women’s Ballon d’Or that Aitana Bonmati won for herself as well.
Future contenders
Following his huge victory, the 36-year-old was asked to comment on the upcoming stars of tomorrow, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo. Talking about the players that could win the Ballon d’Or in the future, Messi mentioned quite a few prominent stars:
“Haaland, Mbappe, Vinicius, and many young players can compete for Ballon d’Or in the next years.”
Lamine Yamal among the chosen
However, he also made sure to include a certain Barcelona youngster in the mix. Highlighting 16-year-old La Masia star Lamine Yamal as a potential candidate, Messi acknowledged his talents as well:
“I also think that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young and plays for Barcelona, will play a prominent role and fight for it in the future too.”
Such high praise will certainly be tough to digest, especially for young Lamine Yamal. The young academy product has helped Barcelona significantly this season. Already having broken several domestic and European records, Yamal is well on his way to making even more history with FC Barcelona.
