Lamine Yamal’s public declaration that he deserves the Ballon d’Or this year has prompted pushback from Abelardo Fernández, the former Barcelona defender and Spain international, who argues the teenager should have kept such convictions private. Yamal told Jorge Valdano he believes he and Kylian Mbappé are “the two best in the world” and that his trophy haul warrants the award.
Yamal’s bid and Abelardo’s objection to the method
When asked directly about the Ballon d’Or race, Yamal made no attempt to downplay his chances. “I think I deserve the Ballon d’Or this year, given what I’ve won,” the Barcelona forward said. He positioned himself alongside Mbappé at the top of individual rankings, stating: “For me, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. It’s clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it.”
Abelardo’s criticism did not target Yamal’s self-belief itself. Rather, the 54-time Spain international took issue with the teenager’s willingness to state it openly. “You can think that, but you shouldn’t say it,” Abelardo said, adding that such public pronouncements “make you look bad.” The former defender suggested Yamal could have acknowledged his candidacy more diplomatically—mentioning he “might be among the favourites” while accepting that awards remain unpredictable, reports MARCA.
Mbappé faces the same scrutiny
Abelardo extended his critique beyond Yamal alone. He expressed equal disapproval of recent Ballon d’Or comments from Mbappé, noting: “I didn’t like what Kylian Mbappé said in his interview the other day either.” The former Barcelona player and manager remained consistent in his stance, reiterating that both players should have exercised restraint.
To underline his point, Abelardo invoked Lionel Messi, widely regarded among football’s greatest players. “I’ve never heard Messi—who has been the god of football—say that,” he concluded, suggesting that humility and letting performances speak for themselves represent a more elegant approach than direct self-promotion.
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