The Ballon d'Or Podium
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé both finished on the podium when the men's Ballon d'Or was announced on Monday in London. Less than 24 hours after they played in a match where Mbappé scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Camp Nou, the duo watched Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane take the main prize. Both players performed exceptionally well on an individual level last season, but it was still not enough to claim the top honor.
Why Mbappé Fell Short
Mbappé scored an impressive number of goals, including 25 in LaLiga, 15 in the Champions League, and 10 at the World Cup, where he became the tournament's all-time leading scorer. However, Real Madrid won no trophies last season, finishing behind Barcelona in LaLiga. In addition, France was defeated by Spain in the World Cup semifinals. Mbappé campaigned openly for the award, but as he has stated multiple times, winning team trophies remains the most important factor in securing individual success.
The Case for Yamal
Yamal had a brilliant season with Barcelona, contributing 24 goals and 18 assists across 45 appearances to help his club secure a second successive league title. He was named LaLiga's player of the season and won the World Cup with Spain. Despite high hopes, the lack of a defining individual scoring moment in the latter stages of the World Cup counted against him in London. At just 19 years old, he remains a strong contender for future awards as long as Barcelona continues to succeed.
Read next
- Football predictions today
- Jackpot predictions this week
- LaLiga and every other league
- LaLiga official website
Good to know: We are not paid for any link on this page.
Be the first to comment
Tell us who you think wins and why. Keep it friendly. Links are removed on their own.
Note: comments are the writer own opinion, not ours, and never a tip from us.
18+Read this before you bet
- There are no sure bets. Every tip on this page is a chance worked out from data about the next game. A tip at 70 percent still loses about three times in ten. Anyone selling a sure bet or a fixed match is lying.
- Betting is not income. Never bet to pay rent, school fees or a loan, and never borrow to bet, including from mobile loan apps.
- 18 and over only. Betting under 18 is illegal in Kenya.
- Use licensed bookmakers. Only bet with operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Prices here can change before you bet, so check them first.
- Gambling can be addictive. If it stops being fun, stop. Read our responsible betting page or visit Responsible Gaming Federation of Kenya.
Good to know: We are not a bookmaker and we do not take bets. Full details are in our disclaimer.
