The Ballon d'Or nominees have been announced, and Joan Wexiers, editor-in-chief of Diario Sport, wrote that Yamal deserves the Ballon d'Or, with Rodri as the next best candidate.
The Barcelona president didn't hesitate, nor did the sporting director. The head coach made a rare public statement, and several teammates also voiced their support. There was no shortage of supporters outside the club either, including the Spanish national team coach, De la Fuente. Like them, thousands of fans were clear: this year's Ballon d'Or should go to Yamal.
His season at Barcelona has been outstanding, and his performance at the World Cup has made him one of the top favorites. However, ultimately, it depends on how voters interpret football. Because if they use the same criteria they used when selecting the 30 candidates, anything could happen.
The exclusion of Pedri and Rafinha from this list is hard to understand. It shows that the selectors are far removed from what's happening at the top of football every week. If there's one player who deserves a place on the best list based on talent, courage, and the ability to change games, it's Yamal.
If it's not Yamal? Then it should be Rodri. Another extraordinary player. We shouldn't look at jerseys, crests, or colors here. The Ballon d'Or shouldn't be chosen based on preference, but on achievements.
Yes, Mbappe should also be among the three finalists. His talent and statistics make him an undisputed candidate. But putting the World Cup aside, he hasn't been as good as Yamar or Rodri this season.
Now it's time to vote, and we need to be discerning. The Ballon d'Or should recognize the best player, not the best-selling player, not the player who generates the most headlines, and not the player who wears their favorite jersey.
There are plenty of reasons to vote for them this year, unless someone disagrees. Now we'll see the results and who votes for whom. For us, Yamal is the best player.
