The statistics choose Lamine Yamal as Ballon d'Or

Lamine Yamal has been ranked as the top footballer by CIES for his performance last season, scoring 95.8 out of 100. This marks his second consecutive year at the top, ahead of Michael Olise and Harry Kane. The ranking considers individual performance, competitive level of matches, and team results. Lionel Messi ranks fourth, while other Barcelona players like Pedri and Pau Cubarsí also feature in the top ten. The report highlights discrepancies between statistical rankings and individual awards, as Ousmane Dembélé, the last Ballon d'Or winner, is placed 27th. Yamal's performance strengthens his candidacy for the prestigious award.