Lamine Yamal Believes the Ballon d'Or Should Not Be Based Solely on Trophies

Lamine Yamal explained what should define the Ballon d'Or winner and stressed that trophies and statistics should not be the only criteria.

Lamine Yamal has a clear vision of what the Ballon d'Or represents. The Barcelona star, one of the candidates for the individual award, believes the prize should recognize much more than the number of goals, assists or trophies won during a season.

For the Spanish international, being the best also means having the ability to create excitement, entertain and make fans want to watch a match simply because a certain player is on the field.

"The Ballon d'Or is the trophy that rewards the best player of the year, the exceptional player, the one you enjoy watching play, to the point where you watch a match just because of him," Lamine Yamal explained in an interview with L'Équipe.

Messi and Ronaldinho Are Lamine Yamal's Examples

When explaining his view of the award, Lamine Yamal mentioned Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, two stars who defined different eras with Barcelona.

For the young winger, both perfectly represent the type of player who should be recognized: unique talents capable of connecting with fans and generating excitement every time they have the ball.

"I think of Messi or Ronaldinho when the Ballon d'Or comes to mind. They were different players who made you smile when you watched them play," he said.

For that reason, Lamine Yamal believes the number of goals scored should not automatically become the main argument when determining the winner.

Lamine Believes His Playing Style Is His Biggest Strength

When discussing his own candidacy, the Barcelona player highlighted his approach to the game. While acknowledging the importance of winning trophies, he believes his ability to take on defenders, take risks and play with freedom is what truly sets him apart.

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"I go out on the field, enjoy myself, play well and play my way," Lamine Yamal said, pointing to his style as one of his biggest strengths in the race for the award.

The forward also acknowledged the importance of collective success. In his view, great players must help their teams win because positive results allow individual performances to have an even greater impact.

After winning trophies with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, Lamine Yamal believes he has a strong case for the Ballon d'Or. However, his position is clear: the award should not simply come down to counting trophies or statistics, but should also recognize players who have the ability to turn soccer into a spectacle.