When Portugal and Spain step onto the pitch in Munich for the UEFA Nations League final, the spectacle will be far greater than just a battle for silverware. For one, it marks the latest—and possibly last—major final for Cristiano Ronaldo, now 40 years old, still determined to deliver glory for his country. On the other side, it offers a defining stage for Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy heralded as one of the brightest talents in global soccer.
Both nations enter this final with confidence, quality, and expectation. But what’s captured the imagination of the public in the buildup is not just the match itself, but the duel between a modern-day legend and his potential successor. And in the midst of this high-stakes narrative, Ronaldo offered thoughts that took many by surprise—particularly when asked about the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
There’s a reason Yamal is already being discussed in the same breath as soccer’s elite. In the past 12 months alone, the teenager has guided Barcelona to a domestic treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup). He has also scored in the Euro 2024 semi-final against France, just days before turning 17, and has become a mainstay in the Spanish national team, poised to win his second international trophy before turning 18.
Yamal’s combination of maturity, skill, and fearlessness on the ball has made him a fan favorite and a serious Ballon d’Or contender. With Spain in the final, the narrative has quickly shifted—could a Nations League triumph cement his claim to soccer’s most prestigious individual honor?
What did Ronaldo say about the Ballon d’Or 2025 favorites?
But Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner himself, sees things differently. Speaking candidly ahead of Sunday’s final, he offered a surprising take on the award’s relevance—and on Yamal’s chances. “The individual awards have lost some consensus; I can’t say anything about who should win,” the Al-Nassr veteran said. “In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win. But there is no consensus.”
He added further clarity, naming several players he believes deserve recognition: “I can’t single out just one player, but there are many strong contenders: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha.”
Despite Yamal’s sensational season, Ronaldo emphasized the importance of Champions League success, a competition won this year by Paris Saint-Germain. That perspective appears to place PSG’s Vitinha and Dembele as the Portuguese’s preferred candidates—particularly as they played pivotal roles in the club’s long-awaited European triumph.
“For me, whoever wins the Ballon d’Or must be a player who has won the Champions League. I think this award has lost its value.” Those words may have effectively ruled Yamal out of Ronaldo’s top picks, despite the Spanish teenager’s brilliance across domestic and international competitions.
