Lamine Yamal is set to win another international award

The IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) award is a prestigious honor voted on by football journalists and experts from 120 countries, making it a globally recognized benchmark of a player's performance over a full calendar year .

For Lamine Yamal, a teenager, to be shortlisted for the Men's World Best Player award is a monumental achievement. He finds himself in the company of and competing against some of the most established superstars in the game. According to the IFFHS, the candidates for the 2025 award include legends like Lionel Messi, as well as modern-day greats such as Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bruno Fernandes . This nomination is a powerful acknowledgment that Yamal is no longer just a "promising youngster," but a peer amongst the world's elite.

Yamal's journey to this point has been nothing short of record-shattering. A product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, he exploded onto the scene and quickly became a indispensable part of the first team .

A Trail of Records: His young career is already a long list of "youngest-ever" achievements. He is the youngest player to ever score in La Liga, the youngest to appear in an El Clásico, the youngest to score in a European Championship, and the youngest player to win a major international trophy . For Barcelona, he has set records for the youngest debutant, youngest goalscorer, and youngest to make 50 appearances for the club .

Proven Winner: Despite his youth, Yamal already has a growing trophy cabinet. He was a key part of the Barcelona squad that secured a domestic treble in the 2024/25 season (winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup) and was instrumental in Spain's UEFA Euro 2024 victory, where he also won the Young Player of the Tournament award . His individual talent has been recognized with back-to-back Kopa Trophies in 2024 and 2025, awarded to the best young player in the world .

Current Form: His influence continues this season. As of late October 2025, he maintains a high performance rating in La Liga, contributing with goals and assists and remaining a creative force for his team .

Yamal's story resonates deeply because it transcends football. He is a source of immense pride for his working-class neighborhood of Rocafonda, famously celebrating goals by forming the numbers "304," the last digits of its postcode . He carries the hopes of a nation and represents a modern, multicultural Spain, with a mother from Equatorial Guinea and a father from Morocco . For many, his success is a powerful symbol of what's possible.

This IFFHS nomination is another milestone in a career that is constantly redefining the limits of youthful achievement. It confirms that Lamine Yamal is not just waiting for the future; he is actively shaping it.

What do you think has been the most impressive part of Yamal's journey so far? Let me know in the comments.