Lamine Yamal explains key reason he believes he should win the Ballon d’Or: ‘There are few players who entertain the way I do’

Lamine Yamal explains key reason he believes he should win the Ballon d’Or: ‘There are few players who entertain the way I do’ Lamine Yamal has doubled down on his Ballon d’Or ambitions, arguing that the ability to entertain supporters should carry weight alongside goals, assists and trophies when the award is decided. The Barcelona forward has been one of the standout figures for both club and country this year and has made no secret of his belief that he deserves to be considered seriously for football’s biggest individual prize. Notably, Yamal has previously pointed to Barcelona and Spain’s collective success when explaining his case. This time, though, he placed greater emphasis on what separates his individual style from the other contenders. Yamal points to Barcelona and Spain success The teenager believes his performances have given him a strong platform in the Ballon d’Or race, particularly after what he considers a highly successful year with both teams. Explaining his confidence in his chances, Yamal said, “I’m the one with the best chance. “We had a very good year” with Barça and the national team, he argued, while also acknowledging the major trophy that was missing from their campaign. Lamine Yamal has backed himself for the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) “The only thing missing was the Champions League,” he pointed out. That absence remains an obvious part of the debate around Barcelona’s season, but Yamal believes individual brilliance should not be judged solely through the number of trophies collected. Lamine Yamal says entertainment should matter Yamal’s strongest argument centres on the way he plays. The Barcelona star believes the entertainment value of his football should also be considered when voters assess the Ballon d’Or. “There are few players who play like me and who entertain the crowd as much as I do, and that should count towards winning the Ballon d’Or.” It is a typically confident stance from Yamal, who has never appeared particularly interested in hiding his ambitions.  Lamine Yamal is enjoying a great run of form. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) His willingness to publicly back himself has also attracted criticism , particularly when he has spoken openly about wanting to win the award. The Barcelona forward understands that reaction but has no intention of changing how he expresses himself. “People ask me to be honest and then (when I say what I think) they ask why I’ve said that.” Yamal’s response was clear when explaining why he continues to speak so openly about his ambitions. “That’s just how I am, and I’ll carry on being like that until I retire,” he concluded. Source: SPORT