NEWS
Barca Star Yamal Makes Bold Claim in Ballon d'Or Race
The Catalan attacking star has provided two additional arguments compared to Real superstar Kylian Mbappé. That's also why he sees himself as the favourite.
The race for the Ballon d'Or continues to heat up.
After Kylian Mbappé recently made a case for himself, Barca superstar Lamine Yamal is now also positioning himself in the fight for the biggest individual award in international football.
In an interview with former professional Jorge Valdano for "Movistar Plus", the 19-year-old explained: "Who would I give it to? To the best player in the world. Who do they give it to? That's a very long debate."
Yamal: "This year I would have deserved it"
The winger won the Spanish championship with FC Barcelona and led Spain to the World Cup title in the summer as an absolute key player. In terms of goal contributions, Mbappé delivered better numbers in both LaLiga and at the World Cup, where he immortalized himself in the history books with his goal haul, but he lacks team success.
It is clear to Yamal that the decision will come down to him and the Real superstar. "Mbappé and I, we are the two best in the world, but I believe I would have deserved it this year. For me, that's clear, and anyone who watches the games knows that."
U-turn in Ballon d'Or Self-Promotion
At the World Cup, he said he "achieved a lot that people didn't see. For a coach, it's incredible to have a player who draws three opponents. But I wasn't satisfied with my performance; another player would have had a great World Cup with my performance, but I could have done even more."
Yamal's statements now come as a bit of a surprise because just a few days ago, he said in a press conference that he didn't need to promote himself.
