Class and confidence! Yamal: I don't need to beg anyone for the Ballon d'Or; I have won the World Cup and La Liga

On September 8, at Barcelona's pre-Champions League press conference, 19-year-old rising star Yamal showed great confidence, saying he would never beg anyone for the Ballon d'Or and believes his performances this season fully merit a challenge for the honor.

According to news in the early hours of September 10 Beijing time, Barcelona will host Feyenoord in the opening round of the Champions League, and Yamal gave a direct response about the Ballon d'Or at the press conference. When asked by reporters, “Do you think you deserve the Ballon d'Or?” Yamal said: “I think that judgment is not in my hands, but in the evaluation of the journalists. I have performed well for both my club and my national team. If I can win the Ballon d'Or, I will be very grateful to everyone. However, I do believe I have a chance to compete.” When asked whether he would campaign for the Ballon d'Or, Yamal firmly replied: “No, I don't think I need to campaign, and I don't want to convince anyone. Everyone has their own opinion. This year we won the World Cup and won La Liga again, so I won't beg anyone.”

Yamal's remarks were not made on a whim. Over the past year, he has produced an impressive record for both his club and national team. At the recently concluded 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Yamal helped Spain win the world title while also helping Barcelona dominate La Liga again. He is proud of his outstanding year, saying he has experienced a “glorious year” and openly stating, “I do have a chance,” while remaining open to the final result.

In response, fans expressed their opinions. Some joked, “The Ballon d'Or was decided by one Nations League match last year, that's really funny.” Others said, “Kane's performances are more convincing.” There were also comparisons between Cristiano Ronaldo and Yamal, with some even pointing out, “If your statistics were in another league, you might not even score 30 goals.” Amid the different opinions, many people hoped that both Yamal and Kane could receive the recognition they deserve, reflecting the expectations and support many fans have for athletes' performances.