Lamine Yamal made a notable statement after Rodri’s victory at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
As he left the Ballon d’Or gala in Paris, Yamal discussed his reaction to the racist insults he faced at the Bernabeu while celebrating his goal in Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid last Saturday. The 17-year-old, a product of Barcelona’s academy, opted not to escalate the controversy.
“It was me out there on the field, I was the one celebrating the goal, and the fact that some ‘outsider’ fans are saying a few stupid things doesn’t matter to me… on the contrary, when they say that, it means you’re doing things right,” he stated.
Commenting on his mention of the “304 from the capital” during the presentation of the “Raymond Kopa Trophy” for the best young talent, Barça’s player clarified that he was referring to his connection with his hometown, Mataró, and not the score of the Clásico. “People from Mataró always say ‘304 is the capital.’ Later, someone pointed out the coincidence with the Clásico score, but it was truly a reference to Mataró,” he explained.
Regarding Rodri’s selection as the second Spaniard to win the Ballon d’Or and MVP of the European Championship, Lamine expressed his delight for the Manchester City midfielder. During his acceptance speech, Rodri even described Yamal as a future winner of the prestigious individual trophy. “I’m very happy for Rodri; he’s an incredible player and person,” Yamal stated with admiration. “To be encouraged by the best player in the world and hear that I might win this trophy is really motivating,” he added. “I’m young, and winning the Ballon d’Or would be a dream. I hope it happens soon.”
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