Brazilian star Neymar Jr has called Lamine Yamal the best player in the world ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, publicly backing the Barcelona forward.
Neymar, who played alongside Lionel Messi at both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, made his choice clear in an Instagram post. Tagging the Spain international, he wrote: “The best in the world.”
The post, which Neymar shared from the statistics platform Sofascore, compared Yamal’s current season with Neymar’s own best season at PSG. It highlighted Yamal’s eight goals and nine assists in 10 matches this season.
Yamal added to those numbers on Saturday, scoring the first goal and setting up another as Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2.
Neymar spent his first season at PSG in 2017-18, scoring 25 goals and providing 16 assists in 27 matches. According to the comparison, the two hold the highest ratings in Sofascore’s records. Several of Messi’s seasons at Barcelona are also among the best performances on the list.
The endorsement carries extra weight for Yamal, who has often named Neymar as his idol and has said Neymar has influenced the way he plays. Echoes of the Brazilian are often seen in Yamal’s flair, dribbling and creativity.
The 19-year-old has become one of the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or, consistently standing out for Barcelona and Spain. Neymar’s public support has added to the debate around him as the football world waits for the ceremony.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on 26 October at the Palladium in London, breaking with the tradition of holding it in Paris.
Yamal has already established himself as one of Barcelona’s most influential players. Recognition from Neymar, the player he grew up watching, marks another milestone in his rise.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report