"Ballon d'Or would be deserved" – Jorge Mendes praises Lamine Yamal’s 40-goal contributions for Barca

17-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been the talk of the footballing world this season with an astonishing 40 goal contributions in all competitions for Barcelona. His agent, Jorge Mendes, has expressed faith in Yamal's Ballon d'Or potential by saying, “He’s been the best in the world this season and that’s clear, so Ballon d’Or would be deserved”, says Mendes.“I hope he will be voted and will win as he’s been just fantastic, it’s also beautiful to see a 17-year-old doing this good for the future of the game”, he also added.Yamal has made an incredible impact on the game. He then rounded off Barcelona's remarkable 4-3 fightback victory over Real Madrid in the recent El Clasico, a result that sent Barca seven points clear in La Liga, with just three matches left before the end of the season. This not only highlighted his talent but also gave Barcelona a good prospect of taking the title.Yamal made the difference in Spain’s victory at Euro 24 this summer, finding the net in the semifinal against France and assisting in the final against England. His excellent performances earned him the Young Player of the Tournament award.Those efforts helped Yamal win the 2024 Kopa Trophy, given to the world’s best U21 player, and become the youngest-ever winner. He also placed 8th in the Ballon d'Or voting, showing his meteoric rise in the footballing industry.Yamal has been compared to Barcelona greats such as Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff in making his meteoric ascent. "It's all there for him to be a point of reference at the club," said Barcelona sporting director Deco. His maturity and calmness under pressure have certainly been one of the most impressive aspects, given his tender years.Though young, Yamal has shown remarkable maturity both on and off the field. He is a man who sure loves Barcelona: It seems a contract extension through 2030, with a €1 billion buyout clause. This is a show of faith in what the club believes he can become, that they are happy to build a future around him.As the season wears on, everyone will keep watching Yamal and see if he will be able to uphold his superb performances to lead Barcelona towards even more success. But with powerful names such as Jorge Mendes and the world of platinum/gold-filled football frame behind him, Yamal's road to the Ballon d'Or somehow feels less of a dream and more of an inevitability.Also Read: Lamine Yamal sends bold message to Ronaldo and Mbappé after scoring in El Clásico