Lamine Yamal doesn’t hide what he wants. At just 18, the Barcelona forward once again drew headlines after opening up on the podcast Resonancia de Corazón. He didn’t talk about winning one Ballon d’Or. He said he wants several. “I don’t dream of having one Ballon d’Or, I dream of having many. I believe I’m a player who has the ability to do it, and if I don’t, it’ll be because I didn’t do things right or because I didn’t want to,” said the Spaniard, who’s already among the main favorites for the award handed out by France Football.
It’s the kind of statement that stops you for a second. On one hand, it shows the personality of a teenager who already feels he belongs at the center of Barcelona and, maybe soon, world soccer. On the other, words like that, especially from someone so young, tend to spark debate. Where does confidence end and impatience begin? And how far is too far when you’re putting yourself in the same conversation as the legends of the game?
The weight of wanting more than one Ballon d’Or
Yamal wasn’t speaking about a single dream. He made it sound like a mission. Fans usually love to see a young player brimming with belief, but there’s always that hesitation when ambition comes across like a shortcut to glory. Messi, the man with more Ballons d’Or than anyone else, let his play do the talking. Cristiano Ronaldo, who built his career on relentless discipline, didn’t need to declare greatness before proving it week after week.
Their stories were told through what they achieved, not through what they promised. That’s what makes Yamal’s words stand out. He’s stepping into the same arena where Messi lifted eight trophies and Ronaldo claimed five. By saying not only that he wants them, but that if he fails it’s his fault, he’s placing a rare kind of responsibility on himself. And honestly, it’s not a burden he needs. Dreaming is fine, essential even. but not winning doesn’t mean he failed. It might just mean someone else did enough to deserve it.
The risk of ambition spilling over
Nobody doubts the kid’s talent. At 18, very few players ever reach the level Yamal already has. That part is undeniable. The question is whether it’s smart to expose himself so much, so soon. Soccer runs on heroes, but it also feeds off pressure and criticism. And when a player publicly talks about stacking up awards, every word becomes weight on his shoulders. One gesture, one phrase, even one bad performance, and suddenly critics have ammunition. What sounds like confidence today can very easily be spun as arrogance tomorrow if the results don’t keep up.