Jorge Mendes Declares Lamine Yamal Deserves Ballon d'Or

Jorge Mendes has never been shy about a bold statement, but this one stopped the cameras in their tracks.

Surrounded by reporters before stepping into his car, the super-agent made his stance on the Ballon d'Or crystal clear. As relayed by A Bola, Mendes declared: "The Ballon d'Or is for Lamine Yamal, without a doubt. The Ballon d'Or is for Lamine Yamal, he's the one who deserves it most. He is the best in the world, by a wide margin, and you know it."

No caveats. No half-measures. For Mendes, the debate is already over.

That conviction mirrors the confidence of Lamine Yamal himself. Speaking to Universo Valdano, the Barcelona prodigy had already drawn his own line in the sand when asked who should lift the award.

"Who would I give it to? The best player in the world," he said. "Honestly, as far as the best player in the world is concerned, maybe there are two of us, me and Mbappe. And I think I would deserve it this year because of what I've achieved."

It was the kind of answer that splits opinion but leaves no doubt about the player’s mentality. No hiding, no rehearsed humility.

The La Masia graduate then doubled down, pointing to what unfolds on the pitch rather than the noise around it.

"Yes, for me it's very clear, and everyone who watches the matches knows that."

Between an agent convinced he’s representing the best in the world and a youngster utterly sure of his own case, the message is unmistakable: Lamine Yamal is not just chasing the Ballon d'Or conversation. He intends to own it.