On September 23, Beijing Time (CEST), France Football magazine released the full content of an exclusive interview with Yamal. In the third part of the interview (which was divided into five parts due to its length), he discussed his thoughts on the Ballon d'Or and this summer's World Cup.

Many players have publicly declared: "I deserve the award more than others." What gives you that confidence?

Anyone who watches football understands my reasoning. On the pitch, I enjoy the game, playing beautiful football according to my own ideas. I've won many titles with Barcelona over two consecutive years and also won the most significant World Cup with the national team. But beyond that, my playing style is my greatest asset, and what makes me unique.

The award considers both team performance and individual performance. Do you believe you're a highly competitive candidate who balances both?

Absolutely. Beyond exceptional individual ability, helping your team win is crucial. When your team keeps winning, everyone shines. Fortunately, my national team has been winning consistently in recent years, and the same goes for Barcelona. We hope to continue this winning streak. Personally, I'm also very satisfied with my performance.

The shortlist includes stars like Mbappé, Kvaratskhelia, Rodri, Dembélé, Messi, and Kane. What do you think about them?

They're all legendary players, and their inclusion doesn't surprise me at all. All of them have strong reasons to win—like Messi, who is often mentioned because of a great World Cup, and others have their own merits. All opinions deserve respect. Some say Messi should win, others support Rodri, and these opinions are all well-founded.

Will being a World Cup champion give you a competitive advantage?

Of course. When faced with a lineup of superstars, people will weigh things: this player is strong, but another holds a significant trophy. For me, winning the World Cup this year is a bonus, and that's very realistic.

What was your experience at the World Cup? We saw a different Yamal, playing a different role.

My goal is always to win. To achieve victory, I have to adjust my positioning. My role with the national team isn't as central as it is at Barcelona. I contribute to the team in different ways. If winning the World Cup required me to play differently, I was completely willing. Fortunately, everything went as planned. Not many players can win the World Cup at 19, and I'm proud of that.

What specific demands did Spain's coach, de la Fuente, make of you?

He didn't give very detailed instructions, just told me one thing: fight for the team's victory, and that's what I did. Whatever role I'm given in each match, the team's interests always come first.

You defeated France again in the semifinals, winning 2-0. How did you feel about that match?

The intensity was very high; it was a special contest between two powerhouses. The victory was ultimately ours. We played a perfect match and fully implemented our football philosophy.

You completely controlled the match at your own pace, didn't you?

Exactly. Before the World Cup began, I predicted we would win. I had complete confidence in the entire team; we had a constellation of stars who knew each other very well, and our tactical ideas were clear. The hardest thing in a major tournament is having the entire team on the same wavelength, and we achieved that. In that match, we played excellently, firmly controlled the situation, and played our own brand of football.

One could say you made that difficult battle look very easy.

There were only two ways to play against France: attack and counter-attack frequently, but with their attack line full of stars, we would eventually be overwhelmed. The other way was to firmly control possession and dominate the match. After Oyarzabal scored a penalty in the 22nd minute, making it 1-0, we controlled possession. With so many high-level players on our team, sustained possession would constantly increase the scoreline.

Traduzido por IA.

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