Lamine Yamal refuses to lobby for Ballon d’Or despite stellar year

Lamine Yamal has made it clear that he does not want to campaign for the Ballon d’Or, even after a spectacular season with Barcelona and Spain.

The 19-year-old forward says his performances should speak for themselves, not a publicity push. He also responded calmly to being left out of Ousmane Dembele’s personal top three, treating the omission as nothing more than an opinion.

Yamal pointed out that he is proud of what he achieved, including a major role in Barcelona’s success and a standout year individually. Rather than trying to influence voters, he prefers to leave the final decision to journalists. His message was simple: he has done his part, and the rest is out of his hands.

The teenager’s confidence comes from a remarkable record of 24 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, plus a World Cup winner’s medal. That output has put him firmly in the conversation for football’s biggest individual prize.

Even so, Yamal refused to play the comparison game with Mbappe or Dembele. He remained relaxed, slightly ironic at times, and focused on the idea that his season already proved enough. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also avoided picking a favorite, reinforcing the sense that this year’s Ballon d’Or race remains wide open.