Manchester City midfielder Rodri has backed Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or in the near future.
Rodri and Yamal are both international teammates with the Spain national team.
Speaking to DAZN, the 29-year-old described Yamal as an ‘animal’ in the game of football.
Rodri, who famously beat Real Madrid’s Vinicius to win the Ballon d’Or in 2024, said of Yamal, “One day he will win a Ballon d’Or because he is an animal.
“[He is the] present and future of Spanish football.
”Players of that caliber, who are unique in the world, will always have media repercussions, for better or for worse. But he’s very mature and very focused about some things for only 18 years old.”
Yamal, 18, narrowly missed out on Ousmane Dembele in the 2025 Ballon d’Or.