The race for the Ballon d'Or has taken a surprising turn this season, and everything points to Lamine Yamal possibly becoming the frontrunner if FC Barcelona win the Champions League. At just 17 years old, the young Barça prodigy has become the talk of European football, taking advantage of the early exits of big names like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Jr., who were knocked out after Real Madrid's disaster against Arsenal.

The fall of the favourites and the rise of new stars

This season has flipped all the predictions: giants like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and even Madrid are already out of the race, while Barça, PSG, Arsenal, and Inter Milan are still alive. In this context, Yamal's role keeps growing with each game, and outlets like L’Équipe already have him at the top of their list of favourites for the most prestigious individual award in world football.

But the young Barça star isn’t alone in the race. His teammate Robert Lewandowski, with 40 goals this season, and the Brazilian Raphinha, who's been clutch in big matches, could also be in the mix if they keep shining in the final stretch. On the other hand, Lautaro Martínez is emerging as the biggest outside threat: the Argentine has been crucial for Inter, who are dreaming of the treble, and he already knocked out Harry Kane's Bayern with a brace in the quarterfinals.

The Dembélé factor and a possible PSG revenge story

Over in Paris, Ousmane Dembélé is also looking to join the fight. The former Barça player has been key for PSG, who already secured the Ligue 1 title, reached the Coupe de France final, and will battle Arsenal for a spot in the European final. If the Parisians end up lifting the Champions League, the “Mosquito” could pull off a shocking twist—something that would sting for the club that had him for six years without ever really getting the best out of him.

So yeah, this year’s Champions League won’t just crown the new kings of Europe at club level—it might also decide who gets the next Ballon d'Or. And if Barça manage to win it all, it looks like Lamine Yamal, the wonderkid, could end up receiving the biggest individual honour a professional footballer can get… at just 17 years old.