Overview
- Lamine Yamal told Movistar that the Ballon d’Or should reward the best overall player rather than the highest scorer, a remark widely read as a direct shot at Harry Kane.
- Bayern routed Union Berlin 7-0 on Friday, a result that spotlighted Kane and Michael Olise and prompted a joking Union social post linking the thrashing to Yamal’s comments.
- Bayern sporting director Max Eberl dismissed Yamal’s remarks by saying the best players do not need campaigning, and Kane said he will let his performances on the pitch speak for him.
- The Ballon d’Or vote remains open with 100 national journalists choosing from a 30-player shortlist and the winner set to be announced in London on October 26.
- The dispute highlights a larger choice facing voters because France Football’s rules put decisive individual performance first, which means numbers like goals matter but do not automatically decide the award.