Yamal tipped for Ballon d'Or by Jesus, who cites Neymar parallels

Lamine Yamal has secured backing from new Barcelona teammate Gabriel Jesus for this month’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. The Brazilian forward cited stylistic similarities with Neymar as evidence of the teenager’s potential to claim global individual honors.

Jesus highlights generational talent

Speaking to news agency EFE, Jesus identified Yamal as possessing unique qualities capable of guiding him to victory at the gala. This endorsement aligns with a campaign supported by the Catalan club and other prominent football figures. Yamal previously acknowledged Neymar as his childhood idol and a significant influence on his development.

The striker drew direct comparisons between the two players when reflecting on the most gifted teammates he has faced. "Neymar is the most virtuoso footballer I've ever played with; he could do everything with both feet," Jesus stated. He described Neymar as "untouchable" but noted that Yamal shares specific attributes, including dribbling ability and personality.

"He's still very young, but he does things like a mature player, as if he were 30 years old," Jesus added regarding the winger. He characterized Yamal as "a genius who improves every year, who becomes more and more of a genius."

London prize favoritism asserted

Beyond technical comparisons, Jesus threw his full support behind Yamal for the prestigious award. He expressed uncertainty about the criteria used to determine winners, questioning whether the prize rewards talent, performance, or titles.

"I don't like to talk about the Ballon d'Or because I don't know if they reward a player's talent, their performance, or titles," Jesus told EFE. However, he emphasized his personal preference: "but Lamine is the player I've enjoyed watching the most for years, and this year he's won almost everything. For me, he's the favourite."

Domestic focus shifts to Getafe

Yamal now returns his attention to domestic competition, having recorded seven goals and four assists across seven league appearances this term. His contributions also included one goal and two assists during a 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord.

Hansi Flick’s squad aims to maintain their perfect record when hosting Getafe at Camp Nou this weekend. Barcelona currently sits clear at the summit of the standings with 21 points. The winger’s form remains central to the team’s attacking strategy as they prepare for the upcoming fixture.