Barcelona’s sporting director does not see a contest
Deco was asked on RAC1 overnight whether Lamine Yamal should win this year’s Ballon d’Or. He left no room for the question. “I think [Lamine’s the favourite], no doubt,” the Barcelona sporting director said. “Not just for what he’s done with Barcelona, but he’s won a World Cup with Spain as an important player, too.”
Twelve months ago Yamal finished second, beaten narrowly by Ousmane Dembele. Deco’s case is that the year since has removed the margin. A LaLiga title. A World Cup won with Spain in July, as a starter rather than a passenger. And a line in the record books that nobody else holds, since Yamal is the first player to appear in both a European Championship final and a World Cup final while still a teenager.
“Let’s not forget he went into the World Cup with an injury as well,” Deco said. “He was the best player in LaLiga last season. It’s not because it’s Lamine, our player, it’s because I like football.”
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The numbers behind the claim
Yamal completed 133 dribbles in Europe’s big five leagues last season, more than any other player in them. Across this calendar year he sits on 29 direct goal involvements, 20 goals and nine assists, a tally beaten only by Harry Kane on 39 and Michael Olise on 34. He has also created 22 chances so far this season, the highest figure in those five leagues again.
He turned 19 this summer. Euro 2024, where the whole thing started, was two years ago.
The part that irritated him
The shortlist bothered Deco more than the eventual winner will. Raphinha and Pedri were both left off it, and Pedri lifted the World Cup alongside Yamal in July.
“For me, it’s a huge scandal,” Deco said. “I don’t understand these lists. Seeing that Pedri’s not there, with the talent he has … I don’t get it.”
Dembele took the trophy to Paris last year on the back of a season nobody could argue with. Whether a World Cup summer carries the same weight with the voters is the only question Deco has not answered himself.
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