Lamine Yamal is currently the best teenager on the world circuit. His triumph in the Raymond Kopa trophy during the Ballon d’Or evening is proof of this. The prodigy of Barça and the Spanish selection was chosen as the best footballer under the age of 21, notably ahead of other nuggets such as his teammate Cubarsi, Guler, Mainoo and Savinho.
If Yamal was crowned, it is because he came out on top in the votes cast by former Ballon d’Or winners. Indeed, and unlike what is the case for the main competition, it is ex-footballers who decide and choose the best young person. Many football legends have taken part in this exercise. But there are also others who also abstained. And among those who preferred not to give their Top 3 there is Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane does not want to favor Barça
Winner of the BO in 1998, Zidane was contacted by the France Football editorial team. He declined the offer. However, last year, he voted well and chose Jude Bellingham as number 1. Was it to avoid giving his vote to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal that he said no this time? This hypothesis cannot be excluded given its link with rival club Real Madrid. Moreover, in 2022, he opted for Bellingham also in his top 3, as did Eduardo Camavinga, granting no points to Gavi, who won the trophy.
Note that Zidane was not the only former BO to abstain. This is also the case, for example, for Cristiano Ronaldo. But he has always snubbed this type of request, notably due to his dispute with the editorial staff of France Football which dates from 2021.
