The 19-year-old, Lamine Yamal named himself and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe as the two best players in the world.
“For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” Yamal said in an interview with Movistar Plus.
“I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won,” he added.
Yamal strengthened his claim for the individual award after playing a key role in Barcelona’s league success before helping Spain lift the World Cup this summer.
The teenager had previously taken a more cautious position on his chances, saying last Tuesday that he believed he could win the award after an “incredible” season but would not beg for votes.
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Mbappe is also among the leading contenders after finishing as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, although Real Madrid failed to win a major trophy.
Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain teammate Ousmane Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, has backed another Paris Saint-Germain player for the award after the French club retained the Champions League.
