Young superstar Lamine Yamal has issued a major Ballon d'Or challenge to favourite Ousmane Dembele ahead of the UEFA Nations League semi-final between Spain and France.
As the top leagues have recently come to an end in recent weeks, the frontrunners have begun to emerge for the illustrious Golden Ball award. It seemed as though either Lamine Yamal or Raphinha would be taking the title of best player in the world, but following Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League win this past weekend, it appears their former teammate Dembele has usurped them.
Now Yamal and Dembele will cross paths — but with their nations, as La Roja and Les Bleus compete for a place in the Nations League final on Thursday evening. With much contention over who should claim football’s ultimate individual prize, the teenage sensation has stated that the match at the MHP Arena could be the decider.
"Who do you vote for: the best player this season or whoever wins the game on Thursday?" Yamal told Cope when quizzed on who could win the Ballon d’Or between him and his ex-Barça colleague Dembele.
"For me, it's the best player across the whole year, but everyone sees it their own way. I am confident we will win Thursday, but whether we win or not, I would vote for the best player over the whole year.
"If on Thursday it doesn't go as me or Dembelé want, then who do you vote for? Someone playing on Sunday [in the final]? For me, it's based on the whole year, but if people want to put it all on Thursday, then let's play."
