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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Yamal backed for the Ballon d'Or</li><li>Real Madrid legends make the claim</li><li>Figo and Khedira talk up his chances</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal gets surprise Ballon d'Or backing from Real Madrid legends Luis Figo & Sami Khedira

FIFA Club World Cup

Real Madrid

Al Hilal

<p>Yamal scored 18 goals and assisted 25 for Barcelona this season, aged just 17, as his side won the league and cup domestic double. Pushed on their choices to land the biggest individual accolade in world football, former Real Madrid stars Figo and Khedira nominated the youngster.</p><p></p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@frontthree_/video/7510608634347359510" data-video-id="7510608634347359510" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@frontthree_" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@frontthree_?refer=embed">@frontthree_</a> <p>UEFA Ultimate Champions Legends Tournament POTM LUIS FIGO chooses the BEST UCL PLAYER 🏆 @PlayStation <a title="ad" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ad?refer=embed">#ad</a> <a title="football" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/football?refer=embed">#football</a> <a title="soccer" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/soccer?refer=embed">#soccer</a> <a title="uclfinal" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uclfinal?refer=embed">#uclfinal</a> <a title="frontthree" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/frontthree?refer=embed">#frontthree</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - GOAL's Front Three" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7510608640299010818?refer=embed">♬ original sound - GOAL's Front Three</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Speaking at <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/playstation-house-takes-over-munich-football-legends-global-creators-celebrate-uefa-champions-league-final-weekend/blt99121a8f9795828d#cs55f7f5444cc449a3" target="_blank">the PlayStation House event in Munich on Saturday</a>, Figo told <strong>GOAL</strong>: "If he continues working hard like he's doing and playing like this - in the future, for sure."</p><p>Khedira then claimed that Yamal was the best player in this season's Champions League, pushing him to the front of the queue for the Ballon d'Or.</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@frontthree_/video/7510640396297374998" data-video-id="7510640396297374998" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@frontthree_" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@frontthree_?refer=embed">@frontthree_</a> <p>SAMI KHEDIRA picks THE BEST FOOTBALLER in the UCL 🔥@PlayStation <a title="playstationhouse" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/playstationhouse?refer=embed">#playstationhouse</a> <a title="ad" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ad?refer=embed">#ad</a> <a title="uclfinal" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uclfinal?refer=embed">#uclfinal</a> <a title="football" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/football?refer=embed">#football</a> <a title="soccer" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/soccer?refer=embed">#soccer</a> <a title="frontthree" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/frontthree?refer=embed">#frontthree</a> </p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - GOAL's Front Three" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7510640401973299990?refer=embed">♬ original sound - GOAL's Front Three</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>

WHAT FIGO AND KHEDIRA SAID

<p>Yamal's main contender for the award is expected to be Ousmane Dembele, who starred for European champions PSG. Their boss <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/luis-enrique-picks-psg-star-win-ballon-d-or-after-inter-rout-in-champions-league-final/blt96a15c551cf128d3#csb22f68018bdfc82c" target="_blank">Luis Enrique has claimed Dembele should be the frontrunner</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Both Yamal and Dembele are set to feature for Spain in the Nations League semi-final between Spain and France on Thursday. The Barcelona winger can then take a long-awaited break, with his Barca side not involved in the Club World Cup.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal gets surprise Ballon d'Or backing from Real Madrid legends Luis Figo & Sami Khedira | Goal.com

Real Madrid legends Luis Figo and Sami Khedira have surprisingly talked up Lamine Yamal&apos;s chances of landing the Ballon d&apos;Or.

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal gets surprise Ballon d&apos;Or backing from Real Madrid legends Luis Figo &amp; Sami Khedira

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