Spain manager Luis De la Fuente has backed Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to win football’s most coveted individual award, the Ballon d’Or, following his starring role in La Roja’s Nations League triumph over France on Thursday.
Why Lamine Yamal?
Lamine Yamal played a significant part in Spain’s thrilling 5-4 victory over France in the UEFA Nations League semi-final, scoring twice to help La Roja book a place in the final where Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal await.
Aside from his sensational performance against Les Blues, Yamal also enjoyed a fantastic individual and collective campaign with Barcelona this past season.
He registered an impressive tally of 18 goals and registered 21 assists across all competitions to help the Blaugrana win the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey.
These impressive achievements have put the 17-year-old superstar into conversations surrounding the next Ballon d’Or award and his national team manager believes he deserves to win the prestigious award.
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What did De la Fuente say about Lamine Yamal?
“Lamine has made a statement and has to win the Ballon d’Or,” the Spain coach told RTVE.
“On the field, there were two of the best teams in the world. The game went in our favour.
“It’s not easy to score five goals against an opponent. We took our chances very well. It shows the high level of the players.”
Does Yamal deserve the Ballon d’Or?
While the Barcelona youngster does have an understandable shout for this year’s prize, he is by no means the outright favourite to clinch it.
Going off statistics and individual impact for their respective teams, the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah and even Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Raphinha are probably more deserving contenders.
Dembele’s recent Champions League triumph with Paris Saint-Germain currently gives him the edge over all other contenders. If Yamal can inspire Spain to another UEFA Nations League triumph, maybe then, he could have a genuine shout.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
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