Barca’s Lamine Yamal eyes up PSG after Ballon d’Or miss

BARCELONA – Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest winner of the Ballon d’Or at 18, and Barcelona’s Champions League home clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Oct 1 offers the ideal opportunity to begin stating his case for 2026.

PSG star Ousmane Dembele won the award for the best player in the world but he is out injured and will miss the match at the Olympic stadium, leaving runner-up Yamal the chance to shine.

Last season, it was the then 17-year-old winger who inspired Barcelona’s charge to the semi-finals and despite two outstanding displays against Inter Milan, Hansi Flick’s side fell just short.

They missed out on facing PSG in the final, as the French side crushed Inter to claim their first Champions League trophy. Yamal pledged he would bring the title to Barcelona, who have not won it since 2015.

Fast-forward to this season, the teenager had been sidelined with a groin issue. But on his return against Real Sociedad on Sept 28 in La Liga, he made an instant impact when introduced in the 58th minute.

The right winger burst into the box and crossed for Robert Lewandowski to head home the winner, little over a minute after entering the fray.

It was the perfect way to reintroduce himself, shaking the crowd out of their stupor.

“(Just) his presence on the pitch is a threat,” said Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco. “He’s showing every day he’s the best player in the world. It’s a treat to watch him.”

Yamal’s impact against Sociedad was also a tonic for the club during a difficult week. They lost Joan Garcia and Raphinha to injury, as the duo joined recently hurt duo Fermin Lopez and Gavi on the sidelines.

Barcelona were also denied permission to return to their renovated Camp Nou home by the city council, despite hopes they could host the Sociedad game there.

“I’m happy to have him back. He showed it directly, his outstanding strength he has to create chances, to give the last pass. It’s good to have him back,” said Flick.

Despite his age, Yamal has made over 100 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 27 goals and winning two La Liga titles since his debut at 15 in 2023.

The Spain international, who won Euro 2024 with his country the day after his 17th birthday, is often compared to eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona all-time great Lionel Messi.

Yamal inherited his iconic No. 10 shirt at the start of this season, also worn by Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho, among other historic Barca stars.

Only time will tell whether he will be able to reproduce Messi’s longevity, but thus far he has risen to meet every challenge he has faced since his debut.

The Argentinian superstar did not win the Ballon d’Or until he was 22, with Brazil great Ronaldo the youngest winner at 21.

Yamal may have missed out in 2025, but if he wins the award in the next two years, he will still claim that record, as he has done so many others.

“You have to climb to get to the top,” he posted on Instagram after missing out in Paris, and facing PSG may be the first rung on the ladder.

Meanwhile in the PSG camp, Luis Enrique’s team are facing an injury crisis affecting several of their stars, none bigger than Dembele.

How he would have loved to come up against the Catalan club. He had left them in 2023 after six years in which he showed moments of brilliance but struggled for consistency and with injuries.

But Dembele is still recovering from a thigh injury picked up on international duty with France in September and is not expected back for at least another couple of weeks.

“It is going well. I will be back very soon,” he told French television after taking the acclaim of the PSG support with the Ballon d’Or trophy following their 2-0 home win against Auxerre on Sept 27. AFP