FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal said that, based on his achievements, he deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick supported Yamal while also stating that, early in the season, the team should focus on match results it can control.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has also joined the competition by presenting his own case for the award, and the two clubs’ differing approaches to supporting their players in the individual-award race are also drawing attention.
3-Line Summary
1. Yamal and Mbappé have expressed their desire to win the award.
2. The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London.
3. Public statements are not the voting results.
Why Manager Flick Supported Yamal
According to a report by Sport Bild, Manager Flick assessed that Yamal deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. Referring to Yamal’s abilities, which he observes every day in training, he said that it is natural to support a player from his own club. He also cited Yamal’s achievements at the World Cup and in La Liga as grounds for that assessment.
Yamal said that he deserves the award because of his achievements this year and identified Mbappé as his biggest competitor. Manager Flick avoided evaluating Mbappé but made clear his intention to help and support Yamal.
However, Manager Flick did not entirely welcome Yamal’s comments themselves. Although he said that he had not necessarily wanted to hear such remarks, he explained that he understood the player’s confidence and honesty. His message was essentially that support for an individual award should be maintained while being separated from the team’s goals for the season.
The Award Schedule and the Difference in Support Between the Clubs
Sport Bild reported that the Ballon d’Or is scheduled to be awarded in London on October 26. This is reporting about the award schedule and does not mean that the final winner has been decided. Manager Flick also said that the title cannot be won right now and that the team must focus on matters it can influence.
WELT covered the atmosphere of Barcelona and Real Madrid each highlighting Yamal and Mbappé, respectively, critically. According to the outlet, Mbappé presented his case for winning the individual award by saying that there was no player better than him last season. The outlet interpreted the situation as one in which Barcelona players support Yamal, while Real Madrid is also promoting Mbappé.
WELT’s assessment is not the candidates’ actual ranking or the voting results. However, what stands out in this competition is that the two stars and their clubs are publicly explaining their qualifications for the award, just as much as their performances on the field. Manager Flick’s comments support the competition while also drawing a line showing that Barcelona’s priority is team play.
References
Tags #BallonDor #BallonDor #LamineYamal #KylianMbappé #HansiFlick #FCBarcelona #RealMadrid #FootballIndividualAward #WorldFootball #BallonDorCandidates #YamalMbappé