Real Madrid Star Sends 'Second Place' Message to Lamine Yamal After Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid winger Franco Mastantuono has had his say on fellow teenager Lamine Yamal in the aftermath of this week's 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Barcelona youngster Yamal won the under-21 Kopa Trophy for the second year in a row and was voted into second place for the Ballon d'Or, missing out to former Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembele.

Paris Saint-Germain were the emphatic winners of the Champions League last season with Dembele leading the line, scoring eight times and assisting six goals as Luis Enrique's men blitzed their way to a maiden European title.

PSG won the treble last season and Dembele has been rewarded for his contribution with the sport's top individual honour.

Yamal ranked in second place between Dembele and PSG teammate Vitinha, with Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah fourth and Barcelona's Raphinha fifth.

Lamine Yamal (Image: Getty)

Argentine teenager Mastantuono spoke to the media after his first Real Madrid goal against Levante in La Liga on Tuesday and addressed comparisons between himself and Yamal.

"I congratulate him on his second place in the Ballon d'Or," he said, as reported by Marca.

"I think he's a great player. Obviously, it's not my place to say that. I try not to compare myself to anyone, but rather to play for my team, which I believe is what ultimately leads to individual success."

The 18-year-old, who joined Real Madrid from River Plate on his birthday in August and has already been capped at senior international level, feels at home at the Bernabeu.

Franco Mastantuono at River Plate (Image: Steph Chambers - FIFA / Contributor via Getty)

"I feel very comfortable. It feels like I've been here longer because of the way I'm treated by my teammates and the team. It's great to compete and train like this, doing a very nice job that's also our passion," he said.

Who is Franco Mastantuono?

Mastantuono grew up in Azul in Argentina and was signed to River Plate's academy in 2019.

He made his first team debut in January 2024 and was able to pin down a regular place, playing in 45 league matches before he was snapped up for a move to Spain.

In June, Mastantuono was given his first international cap off the bench against Chile, making him Argentina's youngest-ever player, and has picked up two subsequent caps in World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador.