Atletico Madrid superstar backs Lamine Yamal to win Ballon d’Or: ‘I watch Barcelona because of him’

Atletico Madrid superstar backs Lamine Yamal to win Ballon d’Or: ‘I watch Barcelona because of him’ Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena has thrown his support behind Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, placing the teenage winger ahead of Rodri and Lionel Messi in his personal top three. Baena made his position clear ahead of Atletico’s derby against Real Madrid, describing Yamal as the best player in world football.  It must be remembered that the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London is now approaching, with Yamal among the leading names in contention after another outstanding campaign for club and country. Alex Baena puts Lamine Yamal at the top Asked by DAZN to name his three preferred candidates, Baena had no hesitation over who should take the prize. “It’s crystal clear to me. My top three would be Lamine, Rodri, and Messi. Alex Baena has backed Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) “For me, Lamine is the best player in the world; Rodri showed his level at the World Cup – he was the best player at the World Cup. “And what Messi has done this season at 39 years old is something very few players could ever achieve,” said the Atletico Madrid player. Baena explains the Lamine Yamal factor Baena’s belief in Yamal is not based solely on watching him for Barcelona, as the two have shared time with Spain, where the midfielder has seen first-hand the difference the youngster can make. Explaining why Yamal reminds him of Messi, Baena said, “Honestly, I watched him a lot in training this summer, and he does things you don’t see any other fellow professional do. “He’s one of the few players where I watch games only to see him. That only ever happened to me with Messi, where I would watch matches just to see him play.  Lamine Yamal is one of the favourites to win the award. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) “And it’s the same for me with him; I watch Barca because of him and a couple of others, but if he isn’t playing, it’s very hard for me to tune in,” he added. Yamal’s Ballon d’Or case keeps gathering support Baena’s endorsement adds another high-profile voice to the debate around the Ballon d’Or. His argument is that Yamal’s ability and influence have made him the player he wants to watch. For Barcelona, that growing recognition matters, as Yamal is no longer being discussed as one of the brightest young players in Europe.  Rather, he is being judged against the biggest names in world football and Baena believes he belongs at the very top.