Lamine Yamal will not beg for the Ballon d'Or, Mbappé promotes himself
Lamine Yamal, forward of FC Barcelona, said at the press conference ahead of his Champions League debut that he will not beg for anything to win the Ballon d'Or, distancing himself from Mbappé's more aggressive stance.
Yamal's stance on the Ballon d'Or
The young winger is one of the main contenders for the award, and France Football began outlining the nominees this Tuesday with the official announcement. Yamal defended the weight of his season both with the club and with the Spanish national team.
"I am not going to start begging for anything," he said at the press conference before the blaugrana debut in the Champions League. He emphasized that he does not want to turn his Ballon d'Or candidacy into a public campaign.
According to Yamal, his job is not to persuade the voters, but to have amassed enough merits on the field. "It does not depend on me, it depends on you, the journalists," he noted when referring to the jury.
Contrast with Mbappé's attitude
Mbappé, forward of Real Madrid, openly claimed his options after a World Cup in which he finished as top scorer and broke the historic record for goals in the tournament, taking France to fourth place. "I think this could be a good year to win the Ballon d'Or," the French striker said, also stating that he always sees himself as the best footballer in the world.
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At the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Mbappé scored ten goals, raising his total record in the tournament's history to 22, a figure that makes him the top scorer. However, Real Madrid finished the season without titles, which complicates the assessment of his candidacy backed by his numbers.
Yamal highlighted the collective successes of the last season, recalling that he has been world champion with Spain and has won the Spanish league again with Barcelona. "I have done a very good job this year, we have been world champions and we have won the league again," he added.
At 19, he is already among Barcelona's captains, a condition he described as a privilege and linked to the locker room's support. He cited Raphinha, Pedri and Eric García as role models who welcomed him upon reaching the first team.
The club's immediate goal is the Champions League, a competition Yamal considers the most special. "There is no greater motivation than the Champions," he said, underscoring the squad's excitement in pursuing the top continental trophy.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, and the list of candidates has been made public on a key day. The race appears more open than usual, with footballers who accumulate individual figures, national titles and decisive performances in the World Cup.