So it turns out Lamine Yamal will campaign for the Ballon d’Or.
Just days after saying he wouldn’t ‘beg’ for the individual prize, the Spaniard has started his media assault.
In an interview broadcast before Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Levante, Lamine opened up on his hopes for the award.
Lamine Yamal backs himself for the Ballon d’Or
“I think I deserve it this year, because of what I’ve won,” the World Cup winner told Movistar+.
Asked who he would give the award to, he said: “The best player in the world.
“Who are they going to give it to? That’s a very long discussion… I sincerely believe that there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I deserve it, because of what I’ve won.
“For me, [Kylian] Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. For me, it’s clear, and everyone who watches the games knows it.”
Picking Mbappe as his main rival is a smart move by Lamine, given the Frenchman failed to win a trophy.
Lamine, meanwhile, smash past Mbappe’s France and Real Madrid to win the World Cup and Copa del Rey.
Yet Mbappe still thinks he has a chance.
Mbappe makes his case
Speaking to France Football, he said: “Of course, there’s the team aspect, that’s important. Football is a team sport.
“But it’s an individual trophy. And my idea of the Ballon d’Or is that of the Messi and Ronaldo era.
“It’s never given to standard players, but to exceptional players. And I think I’ve done things differently this year.
“It’s a great thing because it feeds into a journey, a story.”
Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho also thinks Mbappe should win the award despite not taking him a trophy.
He argued: “This dozen or so players of a very, very high level, of whom we have three or four. It’s normal that this ambition exists.
“For me, the Ballon d’Or has to be for those players who, when they retire, we miss forever.
“I miss Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cristiano, Messi, Zidane, Matthäus… You can’t give the Ballon d’Or just because someone won the Champions League or the World Cup.
“If you want to reward the Champions League, give the Ballon d’Or to Luis Enrique as best coach. For Spain, De la Fuente certainly deserves it. This is the great tribute.
“The best in the world is another matter; it doesn’t have to be from PSG or Spain. There are two, three, or four of them, and we know who they are.
“We know where they are, here. We know who has made history individually this summer.
“The Ballon d’Or has its political side, and if politics gets involved, I don’t like it as much. We already know my concept of the Ballon d’Or.
“We’re going to invent it [a winner] in Spain or at PSG? There, Luis Enrique or De la Fuente. The best player is someone else.”
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