Luis Figo has backed Lamine Yamal to claim the Ballon d’Or this year, with the Barcelona youngster pipping out a legend to claim the trophy.
The previous Barca star and recipient of the 2000 Ballon d’Or made his pick while in a battle with other top prospects.
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Figo pits Yamal against the best in Europe
The Figo Challenge. So far, a lot of Figo’s decisions in the challenge have had to be made in a snap, and this has been no different: when offered both Messi and Ousmane Dembele, he went for the Argentinian and also picked Harry Kane ahead of Erling Haaland.
Yamal also had the support of Figo in his own bout with the Spaniard, as the Portuguese has the former Barca player over Rodri.
Then, the ex-Portugal star handed Mbappe above Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and reserved two fascinating semi-final clashes.
After scoring his 10th goal of the tournament in the semi-final against the United States, Messi was pushed ahead of Kane in order to be the finalist. The last semi-final was less straightforward, as Figo had to decide whether to pick Mbappe or Yamal.
The decision was a big one considering the stature of the two forwards at the time at Barcelona and on the international level, but Figo decided in the end to join Barcelona’s teen banger.
So, in the end, the final turned into a generational battle between Yamal and Messi – the one veteran representing one of the greatest careers the game has seen, and the other a product of Barcelona’s academy pushing to become one of the most tantalising young players around.
In the end, though, Figo went for Yamal, referring to the stark difference between Messi’s astonishing Hall of Fame resume and the youngster’s potential. “Give it to Lamine now; these guys have enough with Messi”, responded the Portuguese player, smiling, he said in justification. (Mundo Deportivo)
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