Nico Williams Praises Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or Chances After Spain Heroics

Nico Williams has voiced strong support for his close friend Lamine Yamal to claim the Ballon d’Or following another dazzling display for Spain. The young Barcelona forward scored just 75 seconds into Spain’s 4-1 win over Croatia in Sevilla, adding to his early goal against England at Wembley which helped secure a 2-1 victory.

Yamal’s recent performances have bolstered his case for the prestigious award, even though voting has already closed. For Williams, there’s no question about who deserves it.

Williams on Yamal’s Focus and Talent

The Athletic Club winger also scored in the match against Croatia and spoke warmly about his Barcelona teammate after the final whistle. He encourages Yamal to keep enjoying football rather than stress about awards.

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.

Williams did not hold back on his opinion of Yamal’s talent:

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 came as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

A Friendship Beyond Football

Off the pitch, Yamal and Williams share a lighthearted bond. Recently, during a shuttle ride, Yamal noticed Williams had a sweaty armpit and turned the moment into a joke. He recorded it and posted the clip on Instagram, tagging AXE deodorant, giving the brand an unexpected shout-out.

The clip quickly went viral among fans, highlighting their playful friendship alongside their impressive performances for Spain.