Jorge Mendes, the renowned agent of rising football star Lamine Yamal, has made a bold assertion regarding his client’s performance throughout the year, claiming that Yamal was the standout player in the world for 2024.
Jorge Mendes expressed his sentiments during the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards ceremony held on Friday evening in Dubai, a prestigious event that celebrates outstanding achievements in football.
Mendes pointed out that despite Yamal’s remarkable talent and contributions on the pitch, his age played a significant role in the voting process for the coveted Ballon d’Or.
At just 17 years old, Yamal was overlooked by voters, who may have judged that the young winger would have ample time in his career to earn such accolades.
“Lamine was the best player in the world in 2024,” Mendes declared emphatically. “But people didn’t vote for him because he’s only 17. They didn’t vote for Lamine because they think he would have more opportunities to win the award in the future.”
Despite not winning the Ballon d’Or, where he finished in an impressive 8th place among the world’s elite players, Yamal managed to secure the title of best young player globally.
This recognition comes in a year when he was competing against an elite group of footballers, including Rodri, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Lautaro Martinez.
The acknowledgement of his performance highlights the exceptional potential and skill that Lamine Yamal possesses as a young footballer, marking him as a player to watch in the coming years.