Yamal will become the most special Ballon d'Or winner in history.

Yamal - Ảnh 1. — Yamal is undoubtedly one of the best players this season - Photo: REUTERS

In early 2025, football websites began compiling lists of nominees for the Ballon d'Or for the 2024-2025 season.

At that time, Salah was leading the pack with his devastating form. Next was Raphinha, who was also in equally high form. Then came Mbappe and Haaland – understandable given their inherent class – and then Vinicius, Saka, Dembele...

Yamal also made the list, adding a touch of excitement to the world of football. Few believed a 17-year-old player could make a name for himself in the Ballon d'Or race.

But as the season drew to a close, Salah, Mbappe, Haaland, Vinicius, and Saka all dropped out of the race one by one, following their teams' failures.

By May, bookmakers and football websites begin rearranging the list of Ballon d'Or nominees.

According to bookmakers, Dembele is the top bet with odds of 3/2 (bet 2, win 3), followed by Yamal (3/1), Donnarumma (5/1), Raphinha (7/1), Salah (8/1)...

However, some football websites rate Yamal even higher. For example, Score90 ranked the 17-year-old striker at the top of their list, followed by Dembele...

Many fans also believe that if PSG lose to Inter Milan in the Champions League final, Yamal will win this year's Ballon d'Or.

Why? Because Inter Milan – the team that would be at the top of Europe in that case – wouldn't have any outstanding stars. And for PSG, finishing second or third would be the same. Dembele wouldn't have any advantage over Yamal.

If you put the statistics on a scale, Dembele scored 33 goals and provided 10 assists in all competitions for PSG.

But when considering the statistics, Salah is even more outstanding with 33 goals and 23 assists. The Egyptian superstar is the most complete player among the candidates.

Raphinha also excelled in terms of statistics, with 31 goals and 17 assists in all competitions. At Barca, Raphinha was the main source of attacking play.

Meanwhile, Yamal has 17 goals and 20 assists. If we consider the total number of goals and assists (often called the G/A ratio), Yamal is the weakest with 37, far behind Salah (56), Raphinha (48) and Dembele (43).

But this is the Ballon d'Or, an award that honors the most outstanding individual of the year with a set of special criteria, including... ethics.

Remember how Vinicius was outplayed by Rodri last season. Of course, you can't compare the goal and assist statistics between a striker and a defensive midfielder.

Rodri beat Vinicius last season for many reasons, but one factor was more important than anything else - emotion.

It is extremely rare in football for a defensive midfielder to become the playmaker and star player for both the European champions (Spain) and the English champions (Man City).

Rodri did just that, making him incredibly special in the eyes of the voters and those with expertise in football.

The story could repeat itself this season. Dembele led PSG to the Champions League final, and possibly even won the title, but overall he only excelled within a very strong team built by coach Luis Enrique.

Right now at PSG, it's difficult to say whether Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, or Donnarumma is the best player.

Salah and Raphinha have more impressive statistics than Yamal. But they can't possibly deliver the same exhilarating feeling as this 17-year-old striker.

What Yamal has achieved in the past year makes him unique in contemporary football. Unprecedented, and perhaps unprecedented throughout football history. A 17-year-old player who has made all the world's most renowned defenses tremble.

Yamal will be the most special Ballon d'Or winner in history, even if PSG win the Champions League!

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/yamal-se-tro-thanh-qua-bong-vang-dac-biet-nhat-lich-su-20250516090747594.htm