Lamine Yamal targets Champions League and rejects Ballon d'Or campaign

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has addressed several topics during a press conference ahead of the club's UEFA Champions League debut against Feyenoord. The 19-year-old, who has recently been named one of the club's vice-captains, emphasized that winning the Champions League is his primary motivation for the season.

Regarding the Ballon d'Or, Yamal stated he has no intention of campaigning for the individual award, noting, “I don't think I need to... I'm not here to make a campaign. I will not beg for anything.” He expressed pride in his achievements with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, including winning La Liga and the World Cup, but left the final decision to journalists.

Yamal also responded to comments from Ousmane Dembélé, who did not include him in his top three Ballon d'Or candidates. Yamal reacted with irony, suggesting Dembélé's choices might be influenced by his friendship with Kylian Mbappé, but maintained that he is happy with his performance and relationship with Dembélé.

Additionally, the player touched upon tactical responsibilities, noting the importance of pressing in modern football, and addressed recent criticisms regarding Real Madrid's complaints about officiating, stating that their struggles are their own concern.