Lamine Yamal: "I go out, have fun and play my way" in Ballon d'Or race

Lamine Yamal has put his name back at the centre of the Ballon d'Or conversation. In an interview with French newspaper L'Équipe, the FC Barcelona winger argued that the award should not simply reward the accumulation of goals or trophies, but should also recognise players capable of thrilling supporters through their talent. For the young Spain international, his way of interpreting football is his greatest strength ahead of the ceremony on Monday 26 October in London.

Lamine Yamal's take on what the Ballon d'Or should reward

The Rocafonda-born player is clear on his position: the biggest individual honour in the game should not be reduced to a numbers game. During the interview he explained that the trophy recognises the best player of the year, understood as that exceptional footballer worth watching even above the result of any given match. In his view, goals and raw statistics are not the most important thing when assessing who deserves the prize.

The Ballon d'Or, as you rightly say, is the trophy that rewards the best player of the year, the exceptional player, the one you enjoy watching play, to the point of watching a match just for him. I think that is what it is, an exceptional player. It has nothing to do with the number of goals he scores or anything like that.

Messi and Ronaldinho: the icons inspiring his Ballon d'Or case

To illustrate what it means to him to be in the Ballon d'Or conversation, Lamine Yamal turns to two icons of Barcelona and world football. Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho represent, in his words, that profile of footballer capable of creating a special connection with the stands through talent and a style that transmits joy. The winger believes both were different players who made people smile when they watched them, and that is exactly the essence he wants to embody.

• The Ballon d'Or should not just reward goals, trophies or statistics.
• Messi and Ronaldinho represent the type of player Lamine Yamal aspires to be.
• His playing style and ability to make the difference are his main argument.

Playing style as Lamine Yamal's biggest strength

Lamine Yamal does not rely solely on his goalscoring numbers to support his candidacy. The winger considers his ability to take risks, beat defenders and offer a different kind of football what makes him stand out. He says he goes out on to the pitch to enjoy himself and play his own way, and that identity on the field is, in fact, his greatest virtue. In that sense, he values what he has achieved with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, but insists that his style is what truly sets him apart.

Titles won with Barcelona and the Spanish national team

The Spain international also highlights collective performance as a decisive factor in the Ballon d'Or race. In his view, the best player is the one who makes his team win, because when the collective works every player shines more. In that context, he celebrates the current moment he is enjoying both with FC Barcelona and the national team, with whom he lifted the World Cup and has spent a year winning.

What is at stake for Lamine Yamal at the London ceremony

The upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday 26 October in London, and Lamine Yamal arrives as one of the standout names to watch. His breakthrough at Barcelona and his role in Spain's recent success make him a serious contender. Beyond the outcome, his message makes clear that for him the award is not just about numbers, but about the mark a footballer leaves on the people who watch him play.