Nico Williams has stepped forward as one of the most vocal advocates for Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or credentials, arguing that the Barcelona winger possesses the rare, magnetic quality that should define football’s most prestigious individual honour, the ability to pull viewers to their televisions on his name alone.
Speaking on the subject, the Athletic Bilbao forward and Spain international laid out a personal philosophy on what separates a Ballon d’Or winner from merely an outstanding player within a successful team and made clear he believes Yamal clears that bar with room to spare.
For me, the best player should be the one you turn on the TV just because you want to watch him. You’re not necessarily watching the team. You turn on the TV to watch that player.” Nico Williams, on his Ballon d’Or criteria
For Williams, individual box-office appeal is inseparable from footballing greatness, and he extended that logic directly to Barcelona’s matchdays, where he believes Yamal has become the primary draw even amid a squad stacked with established talent.
I think many people buy tickets to watch Lamine when Barça play, despite all the great players they have. People turn on the TV to watch Lamine, and that’s completely normal.” Nico Williams, on Yamal’s drawing power at Barcelona
The comments carry added weight given the closeness between the two players.
Williams and Yamal have long been described as close friends both on and off the pitch, a bond forged through their time together in Spain’s youth and senior national set-ups.
That relationship has made Williams one of the more consistent public voices championing Yamal’s case for the award, with the winger previously saying he hopes to see his team-mate lift the trophy and that Yamal simply needs to “keep working” to get there.