Surpassing Mbappe, Lamine Yamal named best in La Liga

In the night of Nha Trang, I sat before the screen, hearing the opening whistle of a new season. The stadium was empty in my mind, but I could still hear a million hearts breathing through the radio. And then, that name echoed — Lamine Yamal, 19 years old, voted by his peers as the Best Player in La Liga for the second consecutive year. People remember goals, but I remember the moment two enemies embraced after the final whistle. And I remember that football is not just about numbers. The context of the 2026-2026 season was truly special. Barcelona successfully defended their title with 94 points — a milestone of dominance. Meanwhile, Real Madrid had Kylian Mbappe, who scored 25 goals in 31 matches and won the top scorer title. But the AFE award, voted by the players themselves, went to Yamal. The 19-year-old had 16 goals and 12 assists in 28 matches, achieving a goal involvement rate of 1.0 per match. Not because he scored more, but because of his overall influence, his ability to create and break through — things that opposing players feel most clearly on the pitch. I have followed hundreds of matches in my 28-year career, and I have realized one thing: a player's value lies not in the number of goals, but in how he changes the course of a match. Yamal is not just a winger who scores — he is a creative hub. 12 assists at age 19 is a rare number, showing that Barcelona channels their play through him as a right-sided playmaker. He dribbles, passes, creates chances — and when needed, he also scores. That is the modern player archetype, where creativity is valued above pure finishing. But there is a contrarian view I want to share. The headline "surpassing Mbappe" is actually a misleading phrase. Mbappe remains the top scorer with 25 goals — a number far superior to Yamal's 16. What the AFE award truly recognizes is not who scored more, but who had greater influence on the overall play. In the dressing room, where players face each other every week, they understand who makes them most uncomfortable. And they chose Yamal. This reflects a shift in how player value is assessed: not just goals, but the ability to create goals for the team. I remember saying once: "Denmark doesn't need a championship — they taught all of Europe how to rise from the abyss." With Yamal, he doesn't need to score more than Mbappe to prove his worth. He has proven it through the respect of his peers. And as the 2026-2027 season began, Yamal continued with 2 goals in the first 3 matches, including a brace against Rayo Vallecano in a 5-2 victory. He has not been complacent after glory. He spoke about treasuring the award because it comes from colleagues, and set his sights on winning the Champions League with Barcelona. 44 years chasing the ball, I finally realized I was running toward people. Yamal is not just a young talent — he is a symbol of a new generation, where creativity is valued above selfishness, where assists are celebrated equally with goals. Barcelona is rebuilding their empire on the foundation of La Masia academy, while Real Madrid continues to acquire big stars. Two philosophies, two paths, and the same goal: glory. But there are matches remembered not for goals, but for how we embrace when everything falls apart. And there are awards remembered not for the title, but because they come from those who face us every week. Can Yamal maintain this form? Can he lead Barcelona back to the pinnacle of the Champions League? The question remains open. But one thing is certain: we are witnessing the birth of a legend, not because of numbers, but because of how he makes an entire generation of players bow in admiration.