Lamine Yamal has made his claim for the Ballon d'Or, stating he is more deserving of this year's award than Kylian Mbappe.

Yamal, who scored a brace on Sunday as Barcelona ran out 4-2 winners over Levante in LaLiga, has had another exceptional year.

The 19-year-old helped Spain to World Cup glory, with La Roja beating Mbappe's France en route to the final, in which they downed Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Yamal became the first player to play in both a European Championship and World Cup final as a teenager, having won Euro 2024 with La Roja two years ago.

Harry Kane (41) and Michael Olise (34) are the only players to register more direct goal involvements this calendar year than Yamal (31 – 22 goals, nine assists).

After his efforts against Levante, Yamal is the second player to score three braces in his team's first five matches of a LaLiga season in the 21st century.

The previous player to do so was Lionel Messi in the 2012-13 season (three braces), also with Barcelona.

And Yamal feels he has done enough to edge out Real Madrid superstar Mbappe to clinch football's biggest individual prize.

Yamal told Movistar: "Who would I give the Ballon d'Or to? I honestly think there are perhaps only two players who are the best in the world, but I deserve it this year.

"For me, Kylian Mbappe and I are the best two players, and anyone who watches the matches knows that.

"I believe I deserve this Ballon d'Or also because of the titles I have won and achieved last season. That's my view."

Last week, Mbappe had his say on his own Ballon d'Or chances, claiming he had a better year than any other player.