Spanish radio presenter Manu Carreño has declared Lamine Yamal the best player in the world, while admitting that he does not know who will win this month’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

Yamal is among the leading contenders alongside Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. Although Carreño stopped short of predicting the winner, he expressed his firm belief that Yamal currently stands above the competition.

“I don’t know who will win the Ballon d’Or, whether it’s Rodri, Kane, Lamine, Fabián, Mbappé or anyone else, but I think the best player in the world is Lamine Yamal,” Carreño said, according to Barça Universal.

He added: “For the first time ever, Spain has the best player in the world. His name is Lamine Yamal.”

Yamal, who won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has continued to impress for both club and country over the past two seasons. His performances have established him as one of football’s most influential young stars and a serious contender for the sport’s most prestigious individual award.

LaLiga President Javier Tebas has rejected Real Madrid’s claims that referees are involved in a conspiracy against the club. His response followed Real Madrid’s 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid, after which manager José Mourinho presented printed screenshots of tackles he believed deserved red cards.

Tebas criticized media coverage that supported Real Madrid’s position, arguing that it promoted an outdated narrative of permanent institutional bias. He questioned whether refereeing decisions should be influenced by a club’s financial importance, popularity, or reputation. In his view, such an approach would contradict the principle of equality in sport.

Although Tebas acknowledged Real Madrid’s significant contribution to LaLiga, he condemned the suggestion that the competition would be worthless without the club. He emphasized that LaLiga also belongs to its other teams, supporters, and traditions. His comments therefore defended the independence of referees and reaffirmed the importance of fairness and equality throughout the league.

Kylian Mbappé has revealed that he came close to joining Liverpool before signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. At the time, several leading European clubs were competing for the young French forward, who was preparing to leave Monaco.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was particularly interested in Mbappé and arranged a meeting with his mother. She visited the city, attended matches at Anfield, and became deeply impressed by the club’s atmosphere and traditions. She admired Liverpool’s family-like culture and believed it would be an ideal destination for her son.

Mbappé, however, chose a different path. Although he respected Klopp and valued their relationship, he did not want to leave France at such an early stage of his career. He preferred to remain in Paris, his home city, and subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan before completing a permanent transfer the following year.

The revelation highlights how close Liverpool came to signing one of the world’s most celebrated footballers. It also reflects the significant influence of personal priorities and family opinions in major career decisions.