Ballon d'Or, yes or no?

On Monday, the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris will roll out the red carpet for the presentation of the coveted Ballon d'Or. Three days before the event, the Blaugrana faithful are already rubbing their hands in anticipation of the next chapter in a series called "small moments of Barça happiness outside of the game." In last year's episode, Real Madrid came up empty-handed and threw a childish and pathetic tantrum in the eyes of European football just hours before the ceremony. That Ballon d'Or was won by Rodri, who, in his acceptance speech, predicted what many Barça fans hope will happen on Monday: that Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d'Or.

It would be the culmination of the long and tedious process of Barça's resurrection after Messi. A process that collectively, with the recent titles and the way they've played under Flick, has already allowed us to see a recognizable team on the pitch, with ambition and self-respect. But, in terms of individual leadership, they still remain somewhat lacking. And this is where the Ballon d'Or would fall like a gift from heaven for Lamine Yamal. Obviously, the award would provide a tremendous boost of self-esteem and confidence for a young footballer who has pursued a dream since childhood. It would be a morale boost for a team and a fan base that, once again, would have a leader to follow. It would be a breath of fresh air for a club that boasts its Masia. It would be a worldwide announcement of Barça's return to the forefront in terms of status and prestige. And a sensational attraction to inaugurate the new Spotify Camp Nou. An immediate performance award with future expectations, because the Mataró-born striker has a lifetime of football ahead of him, at just 18 years old.

Lamine Yamal? Managing an award as egotistical as the Ballon d'Or isn't easy.

Too early? Well, perhaps. Lamine Yamal has shown a lot on the pitch, but only to the extent that his 18 years have allowed. He still has a long way to go, and this type of individual recognition at such a tender age can be interpreted as a harbinger of success to come or as evidence of how much was expected of that player in contrast to what he has turned out to be.

Managing an award with such an ego-laden personality and team spirit isn't easy. And a bad digestion can upset the fragile balance of a dressing room. Lamine Yamal's combination of youth and talent suggests he won't lack opportunities to win the Ballon d'Or at other, more peaceful times in his life.

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And if he's not awarded the prize this year, the award will likely go to Dembélé or Vitinha. There's no clear favorite for Real Madrid, which would help the Catalans get over the pain. That said, if you're interested, take note and, on Monday night, pick and choose parts of this argument based on what happened in Paris, and in either case, you can call the evening a success.