Former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has emphasized Lionel Messi’s extraordinary dominance in the Ballon d’Or awards while also highlighting the bright future of Barcelona’s young prodigy, Lamine Yamal. At just 18 years old, Yamal has already drawn comparisons to Messi due to his remarkable talents and rapid rise at the club.
Yamal’s early successes have positioned him as one of the most promising footballers worldwide, and Fabregas recognizes the young player’s potential to reach the heights set by the Argentine legend. Despite Yamal’s evident skill, Fabregas insists that Messi’s level remains unmatched, claiming the former Barcelona and Argentina star deserved the Ballon d’Or every year irrespective of his team’s achievements.
Fabregas explained,
“The only player I’ve seen who should have been awarded Ballon d’Or every year was Leo [Messi]. Right now, maybe [Lamine Yamal] is not there yet but I think if he continues at this level and keeps progressing, he could also reach that level of being so, so dominant in that great trophy. Leo, win or lose, was the best but every three days, he scored two goals and made the difference.”
—Cesc Fabregas, Former Barcelona Midfielder
He further expressed hope for Yamal’s career trajectory, saying,
“He was a dominant player in every aspect. From here on, Lamine is very good, very young, and he’ll have to keep improving, because I understand that this will only be the beginning for him. He’s [18], so imagine when he’s 21 or 22 and continues on this path. The best of luck is all I can wish him.”
—Cesc Fabregas, Former Barcelona Midfielder
Lionel Messi remains not only Barcelona’s greatest footballer but also one of the finest to ever play the game. His record includes 46 trophies and a Ballon d’Or haul unmatched by any other player, having won the award eight times.
The Legendary Rivalry Between Messi and Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or Era
The dominance of Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or discussions is often linked with that of Cristiano Ronaldo, his main rival for more than a decade. Sergio Ramos, the former Real Madrid captain and defender, once humorously suggested splitting the Ballon d’Or into two separate awards to reflect the overwhelming impact both players had on the sport.
Ramos said in 2019,
“They could make a Ballon d’Or only for Cristiano and Messi. Then there could be another for the rest. In the end it’d be better for football.”
—Sergio Ramos, Former Real Madrid Captain
This remark occurred months after Ronaldo’s candid interview with Piers Morgan, in which the Portuguese forward reflected on his competitive relationship with Messi and his own Ballon d’Or achievements. Ronaldo argued that he deserved more Ballon d’Or titles than Messi and recognized their mutual influence on each other’s success over the years.
He stated,
“Messi’s in the history of football. But I think I have to have six or seven or eight to be above him. I’d love it, I think I deserve it. My relationship with him is, we are not friends, but we have shared this stage for 15 years. I know that he has pushed me to be a better player and I have pushed him to be a better player as well.”
—Cristiano Ronaldo, Footballer
Between them, Messi and Ronaldo claimed 13 Ballon d’Or trophies during their careers—Messi winning eight and Ronaldo five—solidifying their positions as two of football’s greatest icons.
The Legacy and Future Impact on Football’s Greatest Individual Award
The discussion around Lionel Messi’s repeated wins of the Ballon d’Or reflects his extraordinary influence in football over many seasons, a legacy that Fabregas and others acknowledge as unprecedented. Messi’s consistency and ability to dominate matches by scoring frequently set a high bar for future generations.
Meanwhile, the rise of talents like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal signals the beginning of a new era. Fabregas’s belief in Yamal’s potential offers a hopeful outlook on how the game may evolve as young stars develop and eventually challenge the long-standing supremacy of established legends.
As Yamal continues to grow, fans and analysts will watch closely to see if he can emulate Messi’s Ballon d’Or dominance and reshape football’s individual accolades in the years to come.