Lamine Yamal wants more African players on Ballon d’Or podium

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal says he hopes to see more African players among the Ballon d’Or nominees and on the podium in the coming years.

The 19-year-old, who has Moroccan and Equatoguinean heritage, believes recognition for African players carries particular significance for footballers from the continent.

Speaking to Egyptian sports channel OnSport, Yamal said performances on the pitch should remain the main factor in determining recognition, regardless of a player’s nationality.

“As players who come from African countries, we feel proud when we see African players on the podium or among the nominees. I hope there will be more and more players, but I think it has more to do with what a player does on the pitch, rather than their nationality,” Yamal said.

Yamal highlights Africa’s growing presence

Yamal has established himself as one of the leading young players in world football and is among the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

His comments come as African players and those of African heritage continue to make a significant impact in European football, with several featuring prominently in major competitions and individual awards.

The Barcelona teenager’s own background also reflects the increasingly global nature of the modern game, with his Moroccan heritage linking him to one of Africa’s leading football nations.

Barcelona star backs African teams at World Cup

Yamal also believes African national teams can make further progress at the World Cup.

“Believe that, with time, African national teams will achieve better results at the World Cup,” Yamal said.

Africa has already made history at the tournament, with Morocco becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals when they made a historic run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Yamal’s comments highlight two areas in which African football continues to seek greater recognition: the achievements of its players on the individual stage and the progress of its national teams at major international tournaments.

With African talent increasingly visible at the highest levels of European football, Yamal hopes that presence will translate into greater representation among the world’s most prestigious individual football awards.