🚨 Iker Casillas questions Yamal finishing third in the Ballon d’Or: 🎙️ “Honestly, when you look at the season Yamal has had, you have to ask yourself what more he could have done to finish higher. For me, the Ballon d’Or is about individual performances, consistency, and what a player brings to his team. Of course, trophies matter, but they cannot be the only thing that determines who wins the award. We have seen that in football before. What I find difficult to understand is how a player who has performed at such a high level, made such a difference in important games, and contributed so much to his team’s success ends up in third place. Yamal has shown incredible maturity for his age. He doesn’t play like someone who is still learning the game; he takes responsibility, makes things happen, and has become one of the most influential players in his team. That deserves serious recognition. You could also see the disappointment on his face when the winner was announced. I think he genuinely believed he had done enough to win, and given the season he had, I can understand why. I’m not taking anything away from the winner because winning the Ballon d’Or is never easy, and every player on that shortlist has their own merits. But when you look at Yamal’s performances, his influence, and what he achieved throughout the season, it’s fair to question why he finished third. For a player so young to already be competing at this level is extraordinary. He has a long career ahead of him, but that shouldn’t mean we overlook what he has already accomplished. In my opinion, he had every reason to believe he could win this award.”