Lamine Yamal has argued that the Ballon d’Or should recognise the player who leaves the biggest impression on football fans rather than simply reward the highest goalscorer.
The Barcelona winger made the case while discussing his own chances of winning this year’s award in an interview with L’Equipe, with the winner scheduled to be announced in London on October 26.
Yamal, who finished runner-up to Ousmane Dembélé last year, is again among the leading contenders alongside Dembélé, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.
He said the diversity of candidates had made the award more open to debate, with journalists ultimately responsible for choosing the winner.
“The Ballon d’Or is for the best player of the year, someone different, someone we have enjoyed watching, who has that magic, makes you smile and look forward to watching games just to see them play,” Yamal told L’Equipe.
“It’s not to do with the sheer number of goals. When I think of the Ballon d’Or, I think of Messi, Ronaldinho… different players, players that make you dream.”
The statistics provide a different dimension to this year’s contest. Kane scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich during a season in which the club won the Bundesliga, while Mbappé registered 42 goals for Real Madrid without a major trophy.
Yamal scored 24 goals for Barcelona, while Dembélé scored 20 for Paris Saint-Germain, who won the European title.
Yamal believes his performances, playing style and achievements with Spain strengthen his own claim. He has won major international honours with Spain as well as multiple trophies with Barcelona, although the Champions League remains the major club title yet to enter his collection.
The teenager said winning the Ballon d’Or is an ambition but not something that dominates his thinking.
“I play to make history, so that in 30 years kids say: ‘He was really good.’ But it’s not an obsession,” he said.
“I want to be Lamine Yamal. I want to be remembered as Lamine Yamal.”
While Yamal declined to frame his ambition around comparisons with past greats, Bayern teammate Luis Díaz has backed Kane for the award.
Díaz, who trains alongside the England captain at Bayern, said Kane’s mentality and consistency had impressed him beyond his goal-scoring record.
“For me, he’s the No.1 candidate to win the Ballon d’Or. I hope he wins it,” Díaz told ESPN.
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