I Have No Chance of Winning the Ballon d’Or” — Says Lamine Yamal

Since the announcement of the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, the football world has been buzzing with speculation about who might win this year’s prestigious award. Names like Rodri, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Erling Haaland have been frequently mentioned, but some are considering other names as well, like young talents such as Lamine Yamal or Nico Williams.

However, Barcelona’s Spanish star Yamal does not see any chance of winning the Ballon d’Or himself. In an interview on the television show “El Hormiguero,” Yamal spoke about his prospects of winning the Ballon d’Or.

During his first TV interview with Pablo Motos, Yamal was asked whether he thinks he has any chance of winning the Ballon d’Or, given that he is on the 30-man shortlist.

Answering the question with a bit of shyness, Yamal said straightforwardly, “Nico and I are on the list. His name came up first, then mine. I have no chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.”

The 17-year-old Yamal, who has been playing exceptionally well for Barcelona, earned a spot on the shortlist primarily due to his outstanding performance for Spain in the most recent Euros. Yamal won the award for the best young player of the tournament, contributing significantly to Spain’s victory in Euro 2024.