Yamal Stays Humble Amid Ballon d’Or Buzz, Steers Clear of Ronaldo’s Approach
Lamine Yamal was recently asked whether he considers himself deserving of the Ballon d’Or, a question that drew a parallel with Cristiano Ronaldo—who has faced backlash for claiming he’s the greatest footballer ever, even ranking himself above legends like Messi, Maradona, and Pelé.
As one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or, Yamal was pressed on whether he would declare himself the best player in the world, much like Ronaldo once did.
The journalist asked pointedly:
“Are you afraid to say that you might be the best player this year? Cristiano said it and got criticized—people called him arrogant. But maybe you think you deserve the trophy?”
Yamal answered calmly and tactfully during his appearance on El Partidazo de COPE:
“I don’t think about that. Thinking about the Ballon d’Or can get you into trouble. I focus on playing and winning—everything else will follow. If I win the Champions League and the World Cup next year, the rest will come. It’s about enjoying the moment and letting things happen naturally.”
Morata Praises Yamal:
Álvaro Morata also chimed in with strong support, stating that no player today has the same game-changing impact as Yamal—further fueling speculation around the young star’s Ballon d’Or chances.
