Rashford: Yamal can win the Ballon d´Or

Marcus Rashford believes Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is one of the front-runners to scoop this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Yamal starred for Hansi Flick’s side as they completed a domestic treble as they lifted the LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana titles.

In the club’s most successful season since 2015-16, Yamal was one of the attacking standouts with 18 goals and 21 assists across all competitions.

Indeed, no player from the top five European leagues born in the 21st century registered as many goal involvements in all competitions last season as the talented teenager.

He finished the LaLiga campaign as the leader in assists (13), shots from outside the box (67), big chances created (28), shots after a carry (56), chances created after a carry (35), through balls (33) and dribbles completed (161).

Yamal is set to be rivalled by Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and team-mate Raphinha for the award, though Rashford believes the Spaniard is a worthy winner.

“It depends on how you look at it,” Rashford told the xBuyer YouTube channel. “Just off football ability, I think he [Yamal] has to win.

“But then if you look at Dembele in the Champions League, of course he can win. Depends how you see it. I would not be disappointed if either of them won it.

“It is difficult to put into words because he is not supposed to be doing that at 16, 17 years old.

“He is playing at the highest level at 16. I do not think we have seen this before.”

Rashford was also on hand to talk about his own future, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favour at Old Trafford.

The 27-year-old scored four goals and registered six assists in 17 appearances across all competitions under Unai Emery, and is expected to leave the Red Devils this summer.

Barcelona are one of the clubs linked with the England international, who revealed that he would like to play alongside Yamal.

“For sure [on playing with Yamal]. Everybody in the world wants to play with the best so hopefully we will see,” Rashford added.

“It is not normal to be doing what he is. He is going to keep improving, so in three years’ time we do not know what we are going to say about him.”