Lamine Yamal has made a statement that has attracted attention on the eve of the announcement of the winner of the Ballon d'Or, speaking about the criteria that should determine the best player in the world.
The Barcelona star, who is also among the candidates for the prestigious award, has stressed that the number of goals should not be the main criterion for determining the winner. His statement has been interpreted as a jab at Harry Kane, one of the favorites in the competition after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich.
"I think the Ballon d'Or should go to the best player in the world, period. Not a player who has scored 80 goals, because when you score 80 goals, that's why you get the top scorer award," Yamal told Movistar Plus Deportes.
"They're two completely different things that people don't understand," the 19-year-old added.
According to Yamal, the best footballer in the world should be the one who makes you enjoy football just by watching him on the pitch.
"The best player in the world is the one who, as a commentator, you're watching a match and you're enjoying it. You see him and you think: 'He's a completely different player from the others,'" he said.
Speaking about the importance of the award, Yamal added that the Ballon d'Or should bring the spotlight back to the individual quality of a footballer, and not just statistics or the number of trophies.
"When the award is given to the best, not to the one who scores the most goals or the one who has won the most trophies, then it will regain its true value," declared the Barcelona striker.
Harry Kane is one of the main names in the competition after a season with exceptional figures, while alongside him are Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Michael Olise and Lionel Messi.
The winner of the Ballon d'Or is expected to be announced in October.
