This year I deserve Ballon d'Or: Barca's Yamal

Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old Barcelona winger, firmly believes he and Kylian Mbappe are the two greatest footballers on the planet. In a recent interview with Movistar Plus, the young player declared, "For me, Mbappe and me, we're the two best players in the world." He further elaborated, "Honestly, I think that, being the best in the world, there might be just two of us, and this year, I would deserve it due to my achievements."

Yamal played a pivotal role in Barcelona's La Liga triumph and also claimed the World Cup title with Spain this summer, bolstering his case for the esteemed Ballon d'Or award.

Yamal's comments were tempered in a press conference held on Tuesday, where he admitted he had a strong chance of winning the award following his incredible season, but he wouldn't resort to begging for votes. Mbappe, the Real Madrid captain, has also voiced his support for the award in recent days. The French star finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, despite his team failing to clinch a major trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain teammate Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, believes the award should go to a PSG player this year, given their Champions League success. Other contenders for the prestigious accolade include Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and England international Harry Kane, with the final voting set to take place on October 26 in London.