Lamine Yamal: 'I'm not chasing the Ballon d'Or, my goal is ...'

Lamine Yamal recently expressed frank thoughts about Barcelona's goals during the crucial stage of the season, attracting notice by openly discussing his stance on the Ballon d'Or.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal was one of the standout figures at the recent Mundo Deportivo Grand Gala, where he was honored for his outstanding performances over the past year.

While receiving the award, the young talent also spoke about Barcelona's objectives for the remainder of the season. As the campaign enters a critical phase, Yamal emphasized that the team’s biggest stars must step up and make a difference. He told Mundo Deportivo: “These are crucial moments, and it’s time for the quality players in the squad to show their worth. I’m enjoying this moment and I will push even further.”

Barcelona currently leads the La Liga standings, but Yamal fully understands that the title race is still long. Reflecting on the domestic challenge, he frankly admitted: “This is the toughest league because it lasts the longest. Nothing is decided until the very end, and just like last season, we have to fight until the last moment, earn every point, and avoid dropping any, because every match is important, and hopefully, we will succeed.”

The young Spanish star also touched on Barcelona’s ambitions in the Champions League. After the painful extra-time loss to Inter in last season’s semifinals, this competition remains a major target for the club. Yamal stated: “It’s a different arena. The position doesn’t mean much; it only gives us more rest time. Whoever the opponent is, we will give our all and try to win.”

When asked about his personal statistics, Yamal insisted that scoring goals is not his top priority. He explained: “My style of play isn’t centered on scoring. It’s true that this causes controversy because when I play well, I don’t score, and when I score, people say I’m not playing well. But what I want is to perform well, help the team win, and keep that up.”

Finally, the Barcelona forward also spoke about individual awards. Although he finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or race, Yamal said he doesn’t focus much on such honors.

He concluded: “I don’t think about it. It’s an award where if you keep pondering, there’s no clear answer. It depends on what you achieve, how you play, and who votes. It’s not something based purely on your performance. I just want to enjoy football and win with Barça and the national team.”