The Youngest Ballon d'Or Winners — Where Will Lamine Yamal Rank?

Lamine Yamal’s rise with Barcelona and Spain has been incredible. At 18 he’s already being mentioned as one of the favourites for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. If he were to win it in Paris he would make history and break a record that has stood for nearly 30 years.

Yamal has been everywhere: breaking into Barcelona’s first team, shining for Spain at Euro 2024, winning the Kopa Trophy and helping his club to domestic success in the 2024-25 season.

His goals, El Clásico performances and consistency have earned him widespread praise and a spot on the shortlist for the individual award.

Bookmakers and major outlets have Ousmane Dembélé as the favourite but Yamal is not far behind, and is the next-biggest challenger.

The Youngest Ballon d'Or Winners in History

Since the Ballon d’Or was created in 1956 it has rarely gone to players in their early 20s. Here is the verified list of the youngest winners:

1. Ronaldo Nazário — 21 years, 3 months (1997)
2. Michael Owen — 22 years, 4 months (2001)
3. Lionel Messi — 22 years, 5 months (2009)
4. George Best — 22 years, 7 months (1968)
5. Oleg Blokhin — 23 years, 1 month (1975)

Ronaldo’s 1997 win with Barcelona and Inter Milan still stands as the record for the youngest Ballon d’Or winner, a record that has stood for 28 years.

Where Lamine Yamal Would Rank