Yamal, who helped Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Barcelona retain the La Liga title, said he was proud of his achievements and would leave the decision to those voting for the prestigious individual award.
“I don’t think I need to [make a campaign for it]. I’m not thinking about what I deserve, everyone can think what they like,” Yamal told reporters.
“I’m proud of everything I’ve done this year with my club and with the national team. We’ve become world champions, we’ve won the league again. I can’t ask for anything more.
“I think… I’ve shown an incredible level, it’s [the media’s] job and I will not beg for anything.”
Yamal finished second in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting behind Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has also made a case for the award after winning the World Cup Golden Boot and becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.
When asked about Dembélé’s preferred candidates, which reportedly included Mbappe, Harry Kane and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Yamal joked about the Frenchman’s choice.
“He’s a friend of Kylian, right?” Yamal joked. “The truth is I don’t care, I’m very happy with the year I had, when I played against both of them together I must have annoyed them.”
Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final before going on to lift the trophy.
Yamal also said he is currently happier than he has ever been after recovering from a hamstring injury that affected him earlier in the year.
“In the end, I’m 19, coming off winning a World Cup, having had the best holidays of my life. I’ve never been happier at any point in my life than I am now,” he said.
The Barcelona star also identified winning the Champions League as one of his major ambitions for the new season. Barcelona begin their European campaign on Wednesday against Dutch side Feyenoord.
The Catalan giants last won the Champions League in 2015, when Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar formed their famed attacking trio. Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona reached the semi-finals in 2025 before making it to the quarter-finals last season.
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