Yamal puts himself on Mbappé's level and rules out Dembélé from Ballon d'Or race

Lamine Yamal has placed himself on the same level as Kylian Mbappé in the Ballon d’Or race, immediately ruling out Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from the debate. The 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy made these statements in an interview with Movistar Plus, with the full broadcast scheduled for September 18.

“Kylian Mbappé and I are the best players in the world for me. It’s very clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it,” said the FC Barcelona right winger. A statement that stands out against the usual discretion of trophy contenders just weeks before the verdict, set for October 26.

Yamal doesn’t stop there and claims a legitimacy that Mbappé cannot match: collective trophies. Spanish champion with Barça, named La Liga’s best player, and above all European champion with Spain at Euro 2024, the 17-year-old finished the season with 24 goals and 18 assists across all competitions. “I think I deserve the Ballon d’Or this year for what I’ve won,” he confirmed.

Kylian Mbappé, for his part, had given a lengthy interview to France Football to defend his candidacy. While the France captain joined Real Madrid and won La Liga, he did not lift a major trophy with his national team last season, a weak point that Yamal does not hesitate to highlight, without naming him directly.

The confrontation between the two men is therefore set to be central in the final weeks of the campaign. It remains to be seen whether the Ballon d’Or jury, which takes into account performances over the entire calendar year, will rule in favor of Catalan precocity or French consistency.