Lizarazu rules out Mbappé and crowns Yamal world's best player

Eight days before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Bixente Lizarazu publicly ruled out Kylian Mbappé from the race for the trophy, unhesitatingly preferring Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Questioned on Téléfoot this Sunday, the 1998 World Cup winner first laid out his criteria: collective performances in the two major competitions of the season, the Ligue des Champions and the World Cup. On this basis, he identified three names — Kvaratskhelia, Yamal and Dembélé — without mentioning the Real Madrid striker. “I’m going to try to respect my criteria which are first and foremost collective,” he explained before refining his choice.

For Lizarazu, only one player truly stands out when you add the criterion of pure genius. “The other criterion is the thrill, the genius. And there, for me, only Yamal remains. What he does on a pitch, and especially lately, he has raised his level even further. It’s true that his World Cup wasn’t incredible but he’s still world champion, he won the Spanish championship and he’s a phenomenal player.”

Lizarazu’s verdict is backed by figures that are hard to dispute. Over his last nine outings across all competitions, the Catalan winger has scored nine goals and provided ten assists. His coach Hans-Dieter Flick had himself settled the question Saturday after Barcelona’s victory on Betis Seville’s pitch: “Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world right now.”

The Ballon d’Or will be awarded this Monday, October 26 in Paris, where defending champion Ousmane Dembélé will present the trophy to his successor.