Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona sensation, has declared that he will not campaign for the Ballon d’Or despite a remarkable year that includes a World Cup victory with Spain and clinching the La Liga title with his club. Speaking on Tuesday, the 19-year-old forward emphasized his contentment with his achievements and left the decision in the hands of others.
Earlier on Monday, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe presented his case for the prestigious trophy, highlighting his individual accolade as the World Cup Golden Boot winner and becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer. Alongside Mbappe, players like Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembele, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also viewed as strong contenders for the award, which will be handed out at the ceremony in London on October 26.
Confidence Without Campaigning
Yamal expressed that he does not feel the need to actively seek votes or promote himself for the Ballon d’Or. “I don’t think I need to [make a campaign for it], I’m not thinking about what I deserve, everyone can think what they like,” he told reporters. Reflecting on his season, he added, “I’m proud of everything I’ve done this year with my club and with the national team. We’ve become world champions, we’ve won the league again. I can’t ask for anything more.”
He further asserted his belief in his own performances, stating, “I think… I’ve shown an incredible level, it’s [the media’s] job and I will not beg for anything.” This marks a continuation of Yamal’s ascent in the football world, having finished as the runner-up in last year’s Ballon d’Or race behind Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele.
In recent remarks, Dembele himself named Kvaratskhelia, Kane, and Mbappe as his top three candidates to win the award. When asked about Dembele’s friendship with Mbappe, Yamal responded with a light-hearted joke, “He’s a friend of Kylian, right?”