Real Madrid and Barcelona have had many Ballon d'Or winners over the years, with both clubs having players nominated for the 2025 edition of the award.
Real Madrid's veteran defender Dani Carvajal is back from a serious injury, and the Spaniard spoke out about multiple hot topics.
Carvajal spoke about his Spanish teammate and La Liga rival Lamine Yamal, and the race for the Ballon d'Or.
What did Carvajal say about Yamal?
In an interview with the SER networks (comments via SPORT), Carvajal praised Yamal, saying, "I have seen him as always from the moment I arrived. It has not changed from when we were together last year, both in the preparation for the Euro and in the championship.
"People have to understand that it's complicated. He is an 18-year-old boy who is already a reference in a club like FC Barcelona, which is one of the best in the world.
"He is making a difference, he has signed an important contract, his impact has increased a lot, and well, in the end, it is not easy to manage either."
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Yamal has already made an impact in Barcelona's new campaign, scoring two goals and providing two assists in three La Liga matches.
Carvajal continued, "He will make mistakes, as we have all made. But, in the end, if you perform on the field, you give it your all, and then you have the quality he has, which is undeniable, because in the end, he can be a player who can mark an era.
"He can be among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or, especially because of his youth. In the end, let's not forget that he is 18 years old, that I was in Castilla at 18, so it is very difficult to make a difference at that age in professional football."
Real Madrid news and related links
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- Real Madrid takes share of La Liga lead with Guler, Vini Jr. goals against Mallorca