Nico Williams Champions Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or After Stellar Spain Displays

Nico Williams has expressed strong support for his close friend and Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, insisting the young forward deserves the Ballon d’Or after another remarkable showing for Spain. Yamal struck within the first 75 seconds of Spain’s 4-1 win over Croatia in Sevilla, following an early goal during the 2-1 victory against England at Wembley.

The teenager continues to rack up impressive moments on the international stage, bolstering his case for football’s most prestigious individual honor, even though voting has already closed. For Nico, the debate is straightforward: Yamal’s talent makes him the clear frontrunner.

Nico Williams on Yamal’s Performance and Mindset

Williams, who also found the net against Croatia, shared his thoughts after the match. He encourages Yamal to focus on enjoying the game rather than getting distracted by awards 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.

He added his firm belief about the award itself:

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.

This statement was reported by Fabrizio Romano.

A Friendship Beyond Football

The bond between Yamal and Nico Williams extends beyond the pitch, often sparking lighthearted moments. Recently, while traveling together in a small shuttle, Yamal noticed Nico had a sweaty armpit and turned it into a playful joke.

Instead of ignoring the moment, Yamal recorded the incident and shared it on Instagram, tagging the deodorant brand AXE. The clip quickly went viral, delighting fans with their humorous interaction.