Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste endorses Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or

Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste has formally backed 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d’Or. The endorsement comes as nominees for the prestigious individual award are considered following a campaign where the club secured both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup. While Yuste cited the emotional connection the teenager has built with young supporters as a primary reason for his support, he acknowledged the significant competition posed by other players such as Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. Lamine remains a pivotal part of Hansi Flick’s current squad, often drawing specialized defensive tactics from opposing teams due to his individual skill set. Although the club recognizes that the award process traditionally prioritizes statistics and trophies over sentiment, staff maintain that the young player has demonstrated the requisite performance levels to merit consideration for the top honor.

• 12:30 PMYahoo Sports — Barcelona vice-president backs 19-year-old superstar for Ballon d’Or: ‘He deserves it’