Gerard Pique says he would really like Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or, labelling the teenager as “particular”.
Yamal and Ousmane Dembele are among the many favourites to carry the accolade this 12 months after stellar campaigns for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.
Barca received the LaLiga title, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana this time period, with Yamal registering 18 targets and 21 assists in all competitions. Solely Raphinha (27) bettered the latter determine throughout the squad.
Remarkably, Yamal led the charts in LaLiga for assists (13), photographs from outdoors the realm (67), massive probabilities created (28), photographs following a carry (56), probabilities created following a carry (35), throughballs (33) and dribbles accomplished (161) in 2024-25.
In the meantime, Dembele was a part of PSG’s treble-winning crew, enjoying a key position of their maiden Champions League triumph, establishing two of their 5 targets within the record-breaking win over Inter.
The Frenchman scored 33 targets and supplied 13 assists for PSG in 2024-25. Amongst all gamers from Europe’s high 5 leagues, solely Mohamed Salah (57), Raphinha (56), Harry Kane (49) and Kylian Mbappe (48) bettered Dembele’s 46 whole aim involvements.
He registered 14 of these aim involvements within the Champions League, scoring eight and aiding six. That’s the second-most aim contributions by a French participant in a single version of the competitors, after Karim Benzema in 2021-22 (17).
Pique shared a dressing room with Dembele throughout his time at Barcelona, whereas he was additionally on the membership whereas Yamal was arising by the academy.
However the former defender believes the 17-year-old would be the one getting his fingers on the trophy.
“I had the chance to share a dressing room with Ousmane and Lamine Yamal. They’re each unimaginable folks,” he advised Sport.es.
“Ousmane was like a brother, however Lamine is particular.
“I would favor Lamine Yamal to win as a result of he’s at Barcelona and likewise concerned within the King’s League [a seven-a-side tournament founded by Pique]. He has a crew, so I would really like him to win.
“However I additionally actually like Ousmane, and if he wins, I’ll be completely happy for him.”
Pique additionally heaped reward on his former coach, Luis Enrique, who turned solely the second supervisor to win a treble with a European membership on two totally different events, after Pep Guardiola.
Luis Enrique led PSG to the most important Champions League ultimate victory within the historical past of the competitors, and Pique was delighted to see his success.
“I do know him very effectively,” he added. “He’s unbelievable. You’ve solely not too long ago began attending to know him, however he’s a real chief.
“And he all the time reveals it. Since Mbappe left, they’ve turn out to be a crew, enjoying a number of the finest soccer on this planet.”
