Nico Williams Backs Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or After Spain Heroics

Nico Williams has thrown his weight behind his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal as a top contender for the Ballon d’Or, following yet another impressive showing for Spain. The young forward scored within the first 75 seconds of Spain’s 4-1 triumph over Croatia in Sevilla, adding to his early goal in the 2-1 win against England at Wembley the previous weekend.

Yamal’s quick-fire goals continue to build his reputation on the international stage, strengthening his case for football’s most prestigious individual award, even though voting has already closed.

Williams Urges Yamal to Stay Focused and Enjoy Playing

Williams, who also found the net against Croatia, shared his thoughts after the match, emphasizing the importance of Yamal enjoying his football rather than getting distracted by award talk.

"I tell him to be himself and enjoy it. When he smiles, he plays better. He already shows it every day. The Ballon d’Or doesn’t depend on him, but if not now, then later," said Williams.

He went further to express his personal view on the award:

"Anyone who understands football knows that Lamine Yamal should win the Ballon d’Or. I hope Lamine wins it. If you really know about football, and you really enjoy football, then you know Lamine is the best," Williams added, according to Fabrizio Romano.

A Friendship Full of Fun Off the Pitch

The bond between Yamal and Williams extends beyond football, with plenty of playful moments between the two Spain internationals. Recently, Yamal captured a humorous moment while traveling together when he noticed Williams had a sweaty armpit and turned it into a light-hearted prank.

Instead of ignoring the situation, Yamal recorded the clip, posted it on Instagram, and tagged deodorant brand AXE, giving them an unexpected shoutout. The video quickly gained traction on social media, delighting fans with their friendly banter.