ไทย
English
中國人
Lamine Yamal has offered a glimpse into the relentless mentality that fuels him, saying he "can never stop" in his quest for greater achievements.
The 19-year-old is among the frontrunners for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following an outstanding season at both club and international level.
The winger was crowned La Liga Player of the Year after guiding Barcelona to the league title, while he played a pivotal role in Luis de la Fuente's Spain side that claimed World Cup glory in North America.
Already a three-time La Liga champion before turning 20, Yamal has kept rewriting the record books in the 2026–27 campaign, most recently becoming the youngest player to register 50 assists in Spain's top flight.
'I'm Playing to Make History'—Yamal
In an interview with L'Équipe, Yamal made clear he will never rest on his laurels and will constantly push for more, no matter how many trophies he accumulates.
"I've won three La Liga titles, and in my mind, I want to win seven or eight—at the very least," he said. "I hope for far more. I haven't won the Champions League yet; I want to win it. And if I win one—knowing that PSG won two in a row—I'd want to win three in a row.
"If I don't win the Ballon d'Or, I have to win it the following year. And if I do win it, I want to win five more. I believe you can never stop; you can always keep winning. Later on, when I'm sitting at home with my children, I want to tell them: 'Now it's your turn; I've already achieved a lot.' That's my mindset: win, win, win—always. And if I don't win, I'll be back to try again next year."
The star forward also disclosed that he sets personal benchmarks for himself to drive continuous improvement each season.
He added: "At the start of every season, I always try to push myself further. I tell myself: 'If I completed 200 dribbles last season, this season I'll try for 300. If I scored 20 goals, I'll try for 30.' I think that, little by little, I'll improve in that area. I want to win more titles; I want to win with Barça. It's true that I've started very well. I'm also trying to get closer to the penalty area, run more, and keep improving."
When asked whether he dreams of being regarded as one of the all-time greats upon retirement, Yamal responded: "I always say that everyone should aim as high as possible. If I were a waiter, I'd want to be the restaurant owner.
"I play to make history, so that in 30 years, young people will say, 'He was really very good too.' But it's not an obsession; I never think, 'I want to be better than Pelé, better than Messi.' I don't want to compare myself to anyone.
"I want to be Lamine Yamal, I want to be remembered as Lamine Yamal, and I hope to be among the greats. I think I have the ability and resources to achieve it, and it depends on me."