Cristiano Ronaldo names Barcelona starlet as future Ballon d’Or candidate | OneFootball

Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo has on Tuesday pointed towards an up-and-coming member of the attacking ranks at Barcelona as a leading future candidate for the Ballon d’Or.

The Blaugrana star in question? Lamine Yamal.

Wide-man Lamine, for his part, saw his long-term excellence at club and international level alike recognised last week.

As much came by way of a place on the 30-man shortlist for the next ‘Golden Ball’.

The Spaniard is not considered as bring amongst the frontrunners for the prize, but his nomination, in and of itself, at just 17 years of age, is a testament to just how highly thought of Lamine is across the world of football.

And, as alluded to above, one individual of the opinion that the explosive winger will one day down the line establish himself as an outright candidate to be named world football’s best comes in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speaking during a YouTube interview with former teammate Rio Ferdinand (as cited by Mundo Deportivo), Ronaldo, no stranger to winning the Ballon d’Or, provided his take on the likely favourites for the award over the years to come.

And, alongside the likes of Real Madrid pair Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, the Portuguese name-dropped the aforementioned Lamine:

“Mbappé could be one of the next Ballon d’Or winners in the coming years. Him, Haaland, Bellingham, Lamine … I think this generation has a lot of potential and I think Mbappé will do very well.”

Conor Laird | GSFN