Ballon d'Or 2026: He's Extremely Talented - Mbappe Responds to Lamine Yamal's Comments
- Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé praised Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal on Sunday, calling the 19-year-old "an extremely talented player" ahead of his clash with Atlético Madrid.
- Yamal recently argued that the Ballon d'Or should recognize players who "bring a smile" rather than prioritize goal tallies, believing his playing style gives him a stronger candidacy than raw statistics.
- Thirty players remain shortlisted for the October 26 London ceremony, where Yamal competes against Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who netted 61 goals this season.
- Bayern Munich Sporting Director Max Eberl told Sky Sports "the best players are the ones who don't need to run a campaign," while Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o hailed Yamal as a "talented genius."
- Yamal finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or behind Ousmane Dembélé and aims to secure the 2026 prize, stating he plays to make history so "in 30 years kids say" he was truly great.
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Blaugrana responds to the criticisms: “If Mbappé and I had said we didn’t deserve it, they would tell us why we say that.”
In an interview with the newspaper L'Équipe, FC Barcelona's striker stated that the award must recognize the differential talent and the show.
Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé say they think they deserve it, even to influence those who vote
Beyond goals and assists, Lamine Yamal believes she should win the Golden Ball for her cheerful football. Yamal was compared to Messi and Ronadinho
Paris, 23 Sep (EFE).- «The Golden Ball should fall on the different player, the one you want to see, the one who has that magic, that makes you smile, that makes you want to go to football only to see him», says the attacker of Barcelona Lamine Yamal, who is running for that award in the [...] La entrada Lamine Yamal: «The Golden Ball must fall on a different player, that has magic» was first published in HolaNews.
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