Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has dismissed suggestions that he is concerned about being left out of Ousmane Dembele’s top three candidates for the Ballon d’Or, joking that the Paris Saint-Germain player may have favoured Kylian Mbappe.
Yamal was speaking at a press conference ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League meeting with Feyenoord on Wednesday, where attention also turned to his individual ambitions and the club’s pursuit of European success.
Dembele, Yamal’s former Barcelona team-mate, recently discussed the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or but did not include the 19-year-old among his top three choices. Yamal responded with a light-hearted remark about Dembele’s relationship with Mbappe, who is also regarded as a leading contender for the award.
“He’s Kylian’s friend, isn’t he?”
Yamal laughed before insisting that he had no issue with Dembele’s selection.
“Honestly, I don’t mind. It’s normal, I get along perfectly with Dembele, and it’s normal for me to involve others. There’s no need to boast about what I’ve achieved this year.”
The teenager also rejected the idea that he needs to campaign for votes to win the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
“I don’t think I need to launch a campaign to win the Ballon d’Or. I don’t need to convince you of anything. I’ve done a very good job this year, and I don’t need to beg you (journalists) to vote for me to win it.”
He said the final decision was outside his control, with journalists responsible for determining the winner.
“I think it doesn’t depend on me, but on the journalists. The work I’ve done with the team and the national team has been fantastic. If that happens, I’ll be grateful to everyone. I think I have a chance too.”
Champions League remains Barcelona’s priority
While Yamal is among the names being discussed in the Ballon d’Or race, he made clear that his primary focus is on Barcelona’s ambitions.
The Catalan club are seeking to win the Champions League for the first time since 2015, when they defeated Juventus in the final. They will begin another European campaign against Feyenoord as they attempt to add the continent’s biggest club prize to their targets for the 2026-27 season.
“There is no greater motivation than the Champions League. We all want it. It is the most prestigious competition. Rodri, Gordon and others, they are all excited about it.”
Yamal also identified the Spanish league as another major objective. Barcelona are aiming to retain the domestic title for a third consecutive season.
“Certainly, the Spanish league is always one of our goals. Winning it for the third time in a row would be a wonderful dream.”
The forward also rejected reports that he had begun the campaign unhappy. He said he was enjoying the best period of his life after Spain’s World Cup success and the holiday that followed.
“I am very happy, and I don’t know why this has been talked about in this way. I am 19 years old, and I came after winning the World Cup and having the best holiday of my life. I have never been happier in my life than I am now.”
Yamal backs Barcelona’s high-intensity approach
Yamal also discussed Barcelona’s approach without the ball, saying intense pressing is fundamental to competing for major honours.
He pointed to the way leading European clubs operate, arguing that players must be prepared to work collectively if Barcelona are to achieve their objectives.
“At Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich (Germany), everyone pushes hard and wins titles. If you don’t run, any team can beat you. If we want to win, we have to run, and if we don’t run, we will lose.”
The teenager has also taken on greater responsibility within the Barcelona squad and described his role among the club’s leaders as a privilege.
“It is a great honor to be one of Barcelona’s leaders. I am grateful to all my teammates and very happy about it.”
Yamal’s comments come as Barcelona prepare for another Champions League campaign, with the club hoping to end their long wait for European glory.
The meeting with Feyenoord provides the immediate test, but the season also carries significant individual interest for Yamal as he competes for recognition in the Ballon d’Or race.
The Barcelona player ended the press conference by offering his best wishes to former team figure Xavi Hernandez after he took charge of the Netherlands national team.
“I have a lot of affection for him because he gave me the opportunity to make my debut, and I wish him all the best.”
For Yamal, however, the immediate priority is Barcelona’s challenge on the pitch, with the Champions League described as the club’s biggest motivation and another domestic title also firmly among their ambitions.
