Lamine Yamal Reflects on Ballon d'Or, Career Aspirations, and Barcelona's New Signings

Regarding the Ballon d'Or, Yamal recalled his experience at last year’s ceremony, where he felt he had a real chance at winning before Ousmane Dembele took the prize. "There aren’t many 18-year-olds who go to a Ballon d'Or ceremony thinking they have options to win," he said. Instead of viewing Dembele's victory negatively, he saw it as a personal achievement. "I finished second at 18 years."

Yamal described his vision of what the award represents, emphasizing that it is for the player who brings magic to the game and makes fans want to watch. He believes his playing style is instrumental in his candidacy. "I think my way of playing is my strongest argument and what makes me different. It is very important, in addition to being a good player, to make your team win."

He acknowledged the weight of his World Cup win as an advantage but remained respectful toward his competitors, including Messi and Rodri. Barcelona supports Yamal’s bid for the Ballon d'Or ahead of teammate Rodri.

On his drive for success, Yamal expressed a relentless ambition. He said he always approaches challenges with the mindset of winning, even jokingly suggesting he would back himself to win a race against swimming icon Michael Phelps. "If I don’t win the Ballon d'Or, the next year I have to win it. And if I win it, I want to win five more,” he explained.

His aspirations extend beyond personal accolades; he aims to leave a legacy in football. "I play to make history, so that 30 years from now the young people will say, ‘He was really good too,'" he noted, insisting he wants to be remembered as Lamine Yamal.

Despite his ambition, Yamal remains grounded, focusing on family and maintaining a normal life outside football. He addressed the rumors surrounding him, saying that he has learned to block out the noise and not let falsehoods affect him.

On the subject of growth, Yamal emphasized that experience has been his greatest teacher. He reflected on the humbling nature of defeats and how they have shaped his perspective, particularly following a bout of pubalgia.

He shared memories from Spain’s World Cup triumph, indicating he adapted his playing style for team success during that tournament. "My goal on the pitch is always to win. And I saw that, to win, I had to change my role."

Yamal also spoke positively about the current Barcelona team, highlighting the camaraderie among young players and the seamless integration of new signings, including Joao Cancelo and Rodri. However, he acknowledged the need for improvement in defensive play.

Personally, Yamal aims to enhance his scoring ability this season, setting goals for greater contributions on the field. He assessed Barcelona’s recent Champions League exits, particularly emphasizing the learning curves that come with youth. "We’re a young team that can still progress," he said, while expressing determination to help the team reach the Champions League final. "Now it is up to us to lift this trophy. We all want to be in Madrid to play the Champions League final."