Leao: I hope Yamal wins the Ballon d'Or
Rafael Leao wishes Lamine Yamal wins the Ballon d'Or following Barcelona's outstanding performance.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Galatasaray winger Rafael Leão expressed his wish for Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or, praising his performances despite his young age and his ability to lead the Catalan club to achievements.
Leão’s comments came after Galatasaray’s 4-1 defeat to visiting Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, with Barcelona overturning an early deficit to secure a comprehensive victory, in which Yamal was one of the standout players.
The Portuguese forward was among those who posed a threat to Barcelona’s defense in the opening minutes, even creating the opening goal for the Turkish side, before the Catalan club asserted its dominance and turned the match around in their favor.
In a television interview with former French star Thierry Henry, Leão said: “Since I’m his friend, I hope he wins the Ballon d’Or and helps Barcelona achieve great things.”
Leão emphasized that Yamal has already become one of the best players in the world, given his performances and achievements at this early stage of his career.
He added that he greatly admires the Barcelona winger, not only for his technical abilities but also for his humility, noting that he is surrounded by wonderful people and plays for a highly respected club.
