Barcelona's Lamin Yamal has made it clear that he feels deserving of the Ballon d'Or as he discusses the prestigious award's significance.
The young winger pointed out that the sheer number of goals and team trophies shouldn't be the sole deciders of who lifts the coveted trophy.
Yamal remarked:
People view this award differently now. In the days of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it was clear that those two were the best players in the world, so the trophy was shared between them.
The problem now is that people focus on aspects that aren't directly related to the Ballon d'Or. They might say it should go to a PSG player simply because the team won the Champions League.
Winning the Champions League means PSG has earned that title as the best team — that's their reward.
The 18-year-old believes individual accolades need to be distinguished from team achievements and statistics:
If the best player in the world is playing for PSG, then in my opinion, he should win the award. Not a player who scored 80 goals (a nod towards Kane), because scoring 80 goals is just a recognition for being the top scorer of the season.
These are completely different things that people fail to grasp. The best player in the world is someone who makes you want to watch a match and provides enjoyment. It's the player who stands out from the crowd.
When we return to truly recognising the best in the world rather than simply the one who scores the most or wins the most trophies, then the award will regain its rightful value.
Yamal has also made a direct comparison with Kylian Mbappe, identifying the Frenchman as one of his main rivals:
Mbappe plays for Real Madrid, and I play for Barcelona, so there's a direct rivalry between us. In terms of trophies, I've surpassed him.
I believe that Mbappe and I can be regarded as the best footballers in the world. And this year, in my view, I deserve the Ballon d'Or.
Harry Kane, another strong contender, has taken a more measured stance. The Bayern Munich striker acknowledged his impressive tally of 73 goals last season but noted that the ultimate decision lies with the voters:
I’ve never been one for talking too much about myself. All I can say is that last season was incredible for me personally and for the team. It was undoubtedly the best season of my life.
Seventy-three goals is the second-best record in history, and it speaks for itself. I’m incredibly proud of this and can only thank my teammates and everyone who has supported me in achieving such results.
But the Ballon d'Or is not in my hands. It all depends on those who vote. For me, last season is behind me. Right now, I’m focused on the present and keen to see what else I can achieve.
