WATCH: Lamine Yamal provides startling assist for Dani Olmo's goal

With one of the season's assists in Sunday's La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Espanyol, Lamine Yamal has launched his bid for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. The 17-year-old has continued where he left off this past season, netting seven goals and dishing out eight more in 15 games. On Monday night, he became the youngest-ever Kopa Trophy winner following a historic season for both club and nation.

Yamal has emerged as one of Barcelona's most impressive players lately; his performance against Real Madrid last weekend was just one of several outstanding individual performances. And with yet another outstanding first-half performance on Sunday, he kept on shining. Yamal got room on the right wing in the 12th minute, then hit Dani Olmo with a flawless 'outside-of-the-boot' ball, beating Joan Garcia towards his near post and making it 1-0.

Filthy from Lamine Yamal 😮‍💨

Dani Olmo scores after a fine outside-the-boot assist from the teenager 🔥 pic.twitter.com/A3B4vtGEVL

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) November 3, 2024

Lamine Yamal may win the Ballon d'Or soon enough, according to Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí. He said, "Now everyone sees what he is, but I've known him for years and I know what he's like. I think he has the ability to win it [Ballon d'Or]."

The FC Barcelona centre-back added, "I don't think so. As he is right now, he's at a spectacular level and to have him at that level in our team helps us a lot. He is full of confidence and that makes us happy."

FC Barcelona set to pursue deal for Rafael Leao

The Blaugrana club spent most of the summer window pursuing a prominent left winger as one of their main reinforcements, but ultimately they were unable to finalise a deal. Barca decided to postpone a move during the summer after being connected to AC Milan star Rafael Leao and then UEFA Euro 2024 star Nico Williams for a long time. 

According to recent rumours from Diario SPORT, FC Barcelona is still interested in Portugal's Rafael Leao, despite the fact that Club Captain Raphinha has proved incredibly successful in his job thus far this season. The Blaugrana team is reportedly keeping an eye on the left winger's pricing in anticipation of a possible transfer.