Lamine Yamal Refuses to 'Beg' for Ballon d'Or Following World Cup Triumph

Lamine Yamal recorded 24 goals and 18 assists last season, helping Barcelona win LaLiga before securing the World Cup with Spain.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal stated he will not "beg" for the Ballon d'Or ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for Oct. 26 in London. The 19-year-old enters the selection process following a season where he produced 24 goals and 18 assists, leading Barcelona to titles in LaLiga and the Spanish Supercopa. This summer, Yamal helped Spain secure the World Cup, adding to his 2024 European Championship victory.

Yamal faces competition from Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, who is considered a potential winner despite a trophy-less campaign with club and country. Former winner Ousmane Dembélé reportedly excluded Yamal from his top three picks, opting for Mbappé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Harry Kane. In response to the snub, Yamal noted his victory over the French pair at the World Cup and expressed satisfaction with his individual performance.

On the domestic front, Barcelona has opened the LaLiga season with four consecutive wins and 17 goals. The club recently added Rodri and Anthony Gordon to the squad as they prepare for a Champions League opener against Feyenoord at Spotify Camp Nou. Yamal, who was also nominated for the Men's Young Talent of the Year alongside teammate Pau Cubarsí, identified the Champions League as his primary remaining career objective.