Ballon d’Or is not a press conference trophy.
Lamine Yamal — 2025/26 + WC
Club: ~45 games, 24 goals, 17 assists
Trophies: La Liga + Super Cup
World Cup: 8 games, 1 goal, 0 assists
Spain won it. He lifted the medal. That is not the same as carrying the tournament.
Erling Haaland — 2025/26 + WC
Club: 52 games, 38 goals, 8 assists
Premier League Golden Boot (27)
FA Cup + League Cup
World Cup: 5 games, 7 goals
Norway out in the quarter-finals. No team luck to hide behind.
Now the same kid is on TV saying he and Mbappé are the two best in the world and he “deserves” the Ballon d’Or because of what he won.
He is 19. Talent is obvious. The mouth is getting louder than the output on the biggest stage.
Barcelona need to sit him down. Everybody knows he is a kid. That is exactly why they should caution him.
Messi and Ronaldo did not campaign like this. People judged them from nights, not quotes.
Football used to be simple:
play, score, create, shut up, collect the award.
Now some players want the statue first and the performance later.
One World Cup goal is not a Ballon d’Or speech. Let the numbers talk.