Lamine Yamal Takes a Shot at Harry Kane in the Ballon d’Or Race
The Ballon d’Or race is nearing its conclusion, and Lamine Yamal once again spoke about what he believes should determine the winner. His comments quickly sparked discussion over a possible dig at Harry Kane.
The countdown to finding the next Ballon d’Or winner is underway, and with it comes growing debate over which factors should carry the most weight when choosing the best footballer in the world. The list of candidates features very different profiles, from forwards with spectacular scoring numbers to players whose influence is reflected in other areas of the game.
Among the names gaining more attention is Lamine Yamal, who has built his case on both his individual performances and his collective success with Barcelona and Spain.
Yamal Explains What the Award Should Really Value
In a conversation with former professional Jorge Valdano for Movistar Plus, Yamal discussed the criteria that, from his perspective, should determine the Ballon d’Or winner.
The Barcelona player placed particular emphasis on the difference between being the top scorer and being considered the best footballer. His reasoning is based on the simple idea that goals are part of the game, but they do not necessarily tell the full story of a player’s impact.
His comments come during an edition of the award in which offensive statistics carry enormous weight. One of the main examples is Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker who finished the season with an extraordinary scoring record.
Kane scored 73 goals for Bayern and England and reached 65 goals for the German club in all competitions, numbers that have put him firmly at the center of the conversation.
The Reference to 80 Goals Changes the Tone of the Debate
The comment that drew the most attention came when Lamine Yamal questioned whether a huge scoring tally should be enough to win the Ballon d’Or. “Not a player who has scored 80 goals, because when you score 80 goals, you get the top scorer award. They are two completely different things that people don’t understand,” the Spaniard said.
His words inevitably put the spotlight on Harry Kane, who finished the season with 73 goals for Bayern and England and is among the leading contenders for the award alongside Yamal and Kylian Mbappé.
Kane Responds and the Dispute Takes a Different Turn
Harry Kane responded to Lamine Yamal’s comments following Bayern Munich’s 7-0 win over Union Berlin, a match in which he surpassed 100 goals in the Bundesliga.
Kane said every player has the right to express their opinion and that he prefers to focus on his work on the pitch: “I don’t really like talking about myself. I focus on my work on the pitch.” Meanwhile, Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, responded more firmly by saying that the best players “don’t need a campaign” and also backed Olise’s candidacy.
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
FC Barcelona
