Former Barcelona defender Abelardo Fernandez has criticised Lamine Yamal for publicly saying he deserves the Ballon d’Or, arguing that the teenager should have kept his opinion to himself.

Axar.az reports, citing Barca Universal, that Yamal recently said: “I think I deserve the Ballon d’Or this year, given what I’ve won.” He also said he and Kylian Mbappe were the two best players in the world.

Abelardo said: “You can think that, but you shouldn’t say it. I don’t think so, because it makes you look bad.”

He added: “You’re not conveying anything positive in that regard. I think you can think it and say, ‘Well, I might be among the favourites, but with these awards, you never know who they’ll go to.’”

Abelardo said he also disliked recent comments from Mbappe about the Ballon d’Or, adding: “I’ve never heard Messi – who has been the god of football – say that.”