Laporta explains why Lamine Yamal deserves Ballon d’Or and provides Raphinha injury update: ‘It’s only fair that he wins’

Laporta explains why Lamine Yamal deserves Ballon d’Or and provides Raphinha injury update: ‘It’s only fair that he wins’ Barcelona president Joan Laporta has once again thrown his support behind Lamine Yamal in the Ballon d’Or race, insisting the teenage forward deserves the prestigious individual award after another impressive season. Speaking during a recent public appearance , Laporta praised Yamal’s achievements and admitted he would be delighted to see the Barcelona star win.  The president also addressed the youngster’s outspoken personality, drawing comparisons with the historic rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His comments come as Barcelona continue to build around Yamal , whose growing influence has made him one of the most closely watched players in world football. Laporta believes Yamal deserves the Ballon d’Or Laporta made his position clear when discussing Yamal’s chances of winning football’s biggest individual prize, stating, “It’s only fair that he wins it. He’s had a great season and has won some very important titles, such as La Liga and the World Cup. He deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. “That’s how he feels, and I think it’s great that he’s speaking out. He’s a very sincere, very straightforward and very young lad. You always have to bear that in mind. I’d be very happy if he won it. Laporta has backed Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) “We’ll see how it goes. It’s all shrouded in secrecy. We’re waiting with bated breath,” he stated. The Barcelona president also defended the teenager’s enthusiasm and willingness to express himself, suggesting that his age should be considered when assessing his public comments. “Lamine is brimming with enthusiasm to express his football when he plays; his merits as a footballer are widely recognised.  “His youth brings with it a certain enthusiasm. I understand that he sometimes lets it show,” Laporta noted . Laporta compares Yamal’s situation with Messi and Ronaldo Laporta acknowledged that the competition surrounding the Ballon d’Or can create a sense of rivalry, while pointing out that the dynamic between Messi and Ronaldo was different. “There’s a sort of rivalry; it wasn’t quite the same with Messi and Cristiano. For me, it always had to be Messi, but they didn’t put themselves forward.  “We must not get carried away. It’s a human reaction from a 19-year-old lad who’s set to make history,” he added. Laporta provides Raphinha injury update Laporta says Raphinha will be available against PSG. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Laporta also addressed Barcelona’s concerns over Raphinha, who suffered an injury while on international duty with Brazil.  The winger returned to the club for treatment, and the president offered an encouraging update regarding his availability. “He got injured, came back and has recovered here. The doctors say he’ll be available for the match in Paris. These are situations we have to accept,” he emphasised. Lastly, the Barcelona president admitted that the international calendar presents a difficult challenge for the club, particularly when players return injured and require time to recover. “It’s a major setback for the club; it’s almost like a pre-season. We won’t be able to change that this year.  “We have to make do with what we’ve got. We already knew that and were prepared,” he concluded. Source: Mundo Deportivo