Alejandro Grimaldo has become the latest prominent voice to back Lamine Yamal as a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, with the Atlético Madrid defender offering an unequivocal endorsement during international duty. The 22-year-old left-back’s support adds to growing momentum behind the Barcelona teenager ahead of next month’s ceremony.
Speaking while on Spain duty alongside Yamal, Grimaldo was direct in his assessment. “For me, Lamine is the best player in the world, no doubt,” he told El Chiringuito. The Atlético newcomer, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, also weighed into the broader award conversation by questioning whether major trophies should remain a prerequisite for winning.
Grimaldo’s Trophy Argument Takes Aim at Mbappe
The left-back’s comments appeared to reference Kylian Mbappe’s candidacy. “Very rarely, or perhaps it has never happened before, that a player won the Ballon d’Or without winning any title. Otherwise, Messi would have won 15 Ballon d’Ors,” Grimaldo explained. Mbappe, among the award’s leading contenders, has not captured a major trophy this year.
Grimaldo’s intervention follows similar support from other Spanish internationals. Unai Simón, Athletic Bilbao’s goalkeeper, recently highlighted how supporters purchase tickets specifically to watch Yamal perform. Mikel Oyarzabal, another Spain teammate, has described him as a transformative player capable of shifting matches single-handedly.
Yamal’s Early-Season Dominance Fuels Award Case
The 17-year-old’s statistics underpin the widespread backing. He has recorded eight goals and six assists across all competitions while leading La Liga in chances created. Barcelona’s perfect start to the campaign has been built substantially around his performances on the left flank, where he has become a constant creative and attacking threat.
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Yamal himself has articulated why his output translates into genuine entertainment value for supporters, framing his case for the award around audience engagement rather than purely individual accolades. Yet whether such endorsements—however high-profile—prove decisive against competitors including Rodri and Harry Kane remains undecided as voting approaches.
