Atletico Madrid star heaps praise on Lamine Yamal – “Best player in the world”

Atletico Madrid star heaps praise on Lamine Yamal – “Best player in the world” With the Ballon d’Or ceremony fast approaching, Lamine Yamal remains one of the leading contenders to claim the prestigious individual award. The Barcelona teenager has already received glowing endorsements from teammates and rivals alike, and the latest to sing his praises is Spain international Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spain international, who joined Atletico from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, was unequivocal in his assessment of the youngster. Grimaldo backs Yamal Another Ballon d’Or endorsement for Yamal. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Asked whether he considered Lamine the best player in the world, Grimaldo left no room for doubt. “For me, Lamine is the best player in the world, no doubt,” he said (h/t El Chiringuito ). The left-back, currently on international duty alongside Yamal, also touched on the wider Ballon d’Or debate, and appeared to take a shot at Kylian Mbappe. “Very rarely, or perhaps it has never happened before, that a player won the Ballon d’Or without winning any title. Otherwise, Messi would have won 15 Ballon d’Ors,” he explained. This could be a reference to the fact that Mbappe, who is one of the candidates, has not won any major trophy. A growing chorus of support Can Yamal win his first Ballon d’Or next month? (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Grimaldo is far from alone in backing Lamine to lift the trophy, with several high-profile figures having voiced similar sentiments. Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon recently explained why he feels Lamine deserves the award, pointing out that fans buy tickets specifically to watch him play. Spain teammate Mikel Oyarzabal, meanwhile, hailed him as a genuine game-changer. Even Lamine himself has made his case, explaining the key reason he believes he entertains crowds like few others. The teenager has enjoyed a remarkable start to the season, leading La Liga in chances created and playing a central role in Barcelona’s flawless start. He has already racked up eight goals and six assists in all competitions. Whether it proves enough to see off the likes of Rodri, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane remains to be seen.