 |
Deco Snubs Salah, Picks Yamal and Pedri Among 2025 Ballon d’Or Favorites |
Barcelona sporting director Deco has stunned football fans by revealing his top picks for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, excluding global stars Mohamed Salah and Raphinha from the conversation. Instead, the former midfield maestro backed two young Barça talents and a surprising PSG duo as his front-runners for football’s most prestigious individual honor.
🏆 Deco's 2025 Ballon d’Or Favorites Revealed
In a recent interview with La Vanguardia (via Barca Universal), Deco shared his admiration for:
-
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
-
Pedri (Barcelona)
-
Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
-
Vitinha (PSG)
"Lamine has a chance, like Pedri, Dembele or Vitinha. The great thing is to see Barça back in the running for the awards." – Deco
The omission of Mohamed Salah, who has been a consistent performer for Liverpool, and Raphinha, who plays under Deco's sporting project at Barcelona, has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
⚡ Spain Boss: “Lamine Yamal Should Win the Ballon d'Or”
Yamal's rise has captured global attention. The 17-year-old winger played a pivotal role in Spain’s thrilling 5-4 UEFA Nations League semifinal win over France, leading Spain manager Luis de la Fuente to boldly claim:
“Lamine Yamal has made a statement tonight and shown that he should win the Ballon d'Or. He's the best player in the world.”
đź‘€ Yamal Staying Grounded Despite Ballon d'Or Hype
Despite the buzz, Yamal remains humble about his ambitions. He has stated publicly that while he dreams of winning the Ballon d'Or, his focus remains on continuing to grow, staying grounded, and performing consistently for club and country.
⚖️ Deco on Comparing Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi
Earlier this month, Deco spoke to BBC Sport and beIN SPORTS, urging caution when comparing the teenage prodigy to Lionel Messi, the record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner:
"Lamine is Lamine. Leo is Leo. Leo was the best player in the history of this club. Lamine can make history, but he is only 17. We must protect him and let him enjoy football."
Deco emphasized that while Yamal is "special" and has the potential to become one of the world’s best, comparing him to Messi would be unfair and premature.
