Yamal lost the Golden Ball because of his age: President of LaLiga
Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, said that Yamal ran out of the Golden Ball due to his youth
He President of LaLigaJavier Tebas, believes that Lamine Yamal He ran out of the Golden Ball for his agebut he is convinced that the Barcelona star will soon win the prize.
Yamalwho turned 18 in July, was second after Ousmane Dembélé, striker of Paris Saint-Germain, in the vote of the Golden Ball Monday.
The Barcelona striker and the Spanish team made history by becoming the only multiple winner of the Kopa trophy, an award that is awarded to the best player under 21 years.
“If I had more than 23 years, I would have won it, I am sure, but as you were younger, they gave him the other (the Kopa trophy),” Thebes said in reference to Yamal and the result of the golden ball.
Unlike Thebes, the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, believed that UEFA Champions League was the decisive factor in the race for the Golden Ball.
Dembélé, 28, scored 35 goals in 53 games in all competitions with the PSG, winner of the triplet, which in addition to his first trophy of the Champions League, also won Ligue 1 and the France Cup.
For its part, Yamal scored 18 goals in 55 games in all competitions last season, in which Barça won the League, the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, but fell into the semifinals of the Champions League against Inter Milan.
On Monday, upon receiving the Kopa trophy, he said he has to “continue working to win other awards in the future.”
Yamal has already broken numerous records since he debuted with Barcelona at age 16, including being the youngest scorer in LaLiga’s history and the youngest player who has participated in a Eurocup. He won the Best Young Player of the Tournament in the 2024 Eurocup after helping Spain to conquer the title.
Thebes is convinced that Yamal will lift the Golden Ball in the near future. “If you continue at the level, which seems likely, I think there is no doubt that you will win the Golden Ball,” he said.
