Last Friday, Movistar+ released the full episode of Lamine Yamal on the podcast "Universo Valdano," in which Lamine Yamal discussed his views on the Ballon d'Or, expectations for the Champions League, his goals, and other topics.

Tell us your thoughts on the Ballon d'Or

"If it were up to me, I would give the award to the best player in the world. As for who will ultimately win it? That's a long story. To be honest, I think there are only two standout players in football right now, and with the achievements I've had this year, I believe I deserve this trophy. In my opinion, Mbappé and I are the two strongest players in the world."

"The criteria for the Ballon d'Or have changed. In the Messi-Ronaldo era, everyone knew they were the top two players in world football, and the Ballon d'Or essentially alternated between them. The problem now is that many people apply criteria that aren't the Ballon d'Or's. For example, some say the award should go to a Paris Saint-Germain player simply because they won the Champions League."

"Winning the Champions League is a club honor. It's a trophy that recognizes the best team, and PSG deserves it. Whether PSG has the best player in the world is another matter entirely."

"In my view, the Ballon d'Or should go to the best player in the world—nothing more, nothing less. Not to someone who scores 80 goals. If you score 80 goals, you should win the Golden Boot. These are completely different things, but many people don't understand that."

"What makes a world-class player? It's someone who, as a commentator, you genuinely admire when watching a match—someone whose performance is clearly superior to others. Only by returning to this fundamental standard—selecting the truly strongest player, not the one with the most goals or most trophies—can the Ballon d'Or regain its true weight."

What are your future goals?

"People think that after winning the World Cup twice, the league twice, and the Copa del Rey, I wouldn't want to pursue three World Cups and five Champions Leagues. I can assure you that ambition is my greatest quality. The moment I won the World Cup, I was already thinking about the next one. I live for football. The best way to repay football is to always desire to play and win."

Who is your football idol?

"Messi is the greatest player in history. I've always wanted to enjoy the joy of football, and Neymar represents that joy. My childhood was spent watching his goals and dribbling highlights over and over."

The Champions League is one of your greatest passions

"I dream of winning the big-eared trophy with FC Barcelona, and I still have an unfulfilled dream: I want to play against Real Madrid in the Champions League. I've never faced them in the Champions League before."

Speaking about strong opponents in the Champions League

"Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain have very high physical intensity. They force you to maintain maximum concentration throughout the 90 minutes, making the game exceptionally difficult. Arsenal, on the other hand, relies more on tactics and possession. I think PSG is a strong favorite to win the title, but for a team that has already won, returning to the top is especially difficult. That's the hardest challenge in football."

Reflecting on your World Cup performance this year

"I'm not satisfied with myself. I think I could have contributed more. I helped the team, but I'm looking forward to the next big tournament. For other players, a performance like mine might look like a perfect World Cup, but for me, it's not enough."

"Before Spain's game against Brazil in 2024, Morata pulled me aside and said, 'I know you're the best player in the world right now. You just need to believe in yourself and show your abilities.' From that point on, I knew I could absolutely prove myself, and everything started to improve from there."

You were once benched from the national team for three weeks

"During one training session, Busquets pulled me aside and asked, 'What are you doing with the national team?' His expression was serious. I was still young and terrified. I told him the whole story, and he told me, 'Now you're playing for FC Barcelona. Everyone knows who you are. No matter how good your skills are, you need to learn to control your words and actions.'"

"From that point on, my life changed completely. I dedicated myself entirely to football. No more going out to play. Only training, matches, rest, and visiting my mother when I had time, then back to football. From then on, I had one thing in my life: football, football, and more football."

Tell us about the racism you've experienced

"Many people display racism indirectly, but they may not even realize it. Many words, many looks—all carry hidden racist undertones, yet the person doesn't know they're doing it. At the Bernabéu, someone called me a 'Black person.' That word didn't hurt me—I am Black, and there's nothing wrong or right about skin color. But when the other side says it with contempt, that's what's wrong."

Tell us about your philosophy of football

"Football shouldn't be controlled by statistics. I don't need to score all the time. Even if I don't score at all during a match, as long as I perform brilliantly, I can finish the game satisfied. Football isn't just about moments when you score—it's about the entire attacking process, from the goalkeeper's initial pass."

Speaking about detailed communication on positioning with teammates

"In training, I often communicate with Fermín; he's good at attacking open spaces. I also talk with Éric García and Koundé. I tell them where I like my teammates to run."

แปลโดย AI

เว็บไซต์ AF เปิดตัวแล้ว! ดูข่าว ความคิดเห็น รายละเอียดแมตช์ และสถิติครบถ้วนบนคอมพิวเตอร์ของคุณ เยี่ยมชม: www.allfootballapp.com