Yamal dedicates Golden Boy award to Cubarsi as he targets first Ballon d'Or

Lamine Yamal accepted the Golden Boy award for the second time in his career but used his acceptance speech to argue that Barcelona and Spain team-mate Pau Cubarsi should have been on stage in his place, as the 19-year-old sets his sights on winning the Ballon d’Or.

“It’s an honour to be here and to receive this prize,” Yamal said. “I would like Cubarsi my team-mate to be here because I think this prize should have been for him, he deserved it. He’s been playing at a top level for some time and I wish he had won it.”

Cubarsi was named the best young player of the tournament at the World Cup this summer, a competition in which Yamal became the first player under 20 to appear and win in both a European Championship and World Cup final.

Yamal’s case for the Ballon d’Or rests on a remarkable body of work. He contributed 24 goals and 18 assists across all competitions for Barcelona in a La Liga-winning campaign, then carried that form into the new season with 20 goal contributions in his first 13 appearances as Barcelona won nine of their opening nine league games to go clear at the top.

He now has the chance to become the first player since Lionel Messi to win both the Ballon d’Or and the Golden Boy on the same night — a feat that would underline just how dominant his rise has been. Last season he finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or race.

“It’s my third year up here for this prize and I’m very grateful,” he added. “I’d like to thank my club, my national team and everybody and I will continue working to win these collective and individual prizes.”

The race for the Ballon d’Or is far from settled. Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane is among the leading contenders, as is Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, making it one of the most open individual award contests in recent memory.