João Félix has publicly backed Lamine Yamal to claim the 2024 Ballon d’Or, rating the Barcelona winger above Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane. Speaking to AS, the Portuguese forward pinpointed Yamal’s rare ability to captivate audiences as the decisive factor separating him from his rivals for the award.
Félix’s Case for Yamal’s Star Quality
Félix grounded his endorsement in a simple but powerful observation: Yamal possesses the magnetic pull of a generational talent. “I’ve always maintained that the Ballon d’Or is for that player who, when you see him, makes you say: ‘This is a star and he deserves to go down in football history’. And if there’s one player who, when you switch on the telly, has you glued to the screen watching him play, it’s Lamine,” he said.
While acknowledging the calibre of performances from both Mbappé and Kane this season, Félix emphasized Yamal’s dual credentials. The teenager combines individual excellence with the legitimacy of major tournament success—a combination Félix views as decisive in Ballon d’Or voting. “Lamine is football personified. What’s more, he’s won the World Cup, and in World Cup years, winning it is always very important if you want to be in with a better chance of the Ballon d’Or.”
Félix Unmoved by Personal Omission
Félix was also quizzed on his own absence from the shortlist—a notable gap given his previous stature at Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. His response reflected detachment from the process rather than disappointment. “Those aren’t things that depend on me; I don’t know who chooses who or who doesn’t. I wasn’t worried about it. I didn’t even know when the list would be published. I’m relaxed about it,” he told the publication.
Now based at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Félix acknowledged that geography may have played a role. He suggested that deeper World Cup involvement could have altered his eligibility standing, but stopped short of dwelling on the matter. “People see the Saudi league as a bit underrated; of course it’s not in the top five, but it’s a good league. I’ve had a great season, but I’m relaxed. Perhaps if we’d gone further in the World Cup, I might have been on it, but I don’t know.”
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