Lamine Yamal, Fabian Ruiz and Pedri all earn nominated for the Ballon d'Or from 2025, according to their Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente.
The Euro 2024 champions are preparing for France in the semi-final of the Nations League in Stuttgart on Thursday, with a place in the final of Sunday at stake.
In the last four, La Roja will come across a player who has been tipped to become the best in the world, in Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele scored 33 goals and offered 13 assists when Paris Saint-Germain de Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France Treble won under Luis Enrique, although De la Fuente also believes that the Spanish midfielder of the Parisiens Fabian deserves recognition.
He also placed Barcelona duo Yamal and Pedri Forward as possible contenders at the press conference on Wednesday, while admitted that he would vote for every Spain player who had the chance to win the prize.
“If you put his name on the table, I will say that I vote on Lamine. But it's the same with Fabian or a Spanish player,” said De La Fuente.
“If they are rewarded for winning titles, Lamine, Pedri or Fabian have done everything to be nominated.
Pedri #nationsleague pic.twitter.com/08pnaldzq1
– UEFA Euro (@Uefaeuro) 4 June 2025
“If I have to vote, I can already expect it to be for the Spanish player who has been nominated!”
Yamal had 18 goals and 21 assists for Barcelona in 2024-25 when they won Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana.
De la Fuente has been built on Yamal at the momentum that he generated by helping Spain to win a record -breaking fourth European Championship, and is determined to protect his teenage wing.
“Lamine has a career that will be spectacular in the future, but our responsibility is to take care of the small details,” he said.
“I am not only in love with Lamine's football, but I also predict a wonderful future for him. Lamine has everything with the five best players in the world.
“He is very responsible, a very good professional, a good person … He has everything, as long as he does not get an injury, forbid God.”
This week's Nations League matches bring Spain back to the scene of their Euro 2024 triumph in Germany, and the side of the La Fuente have been advertised as favorites to lift the trophy over France, Germany and Portugal.
He rejected that tag and said: “In these last four we have three world champions and one European champion.
“There are no favorites. There are three games that are three real finals. It is very difficult. These competitions are determined by the small details; it is so right.”