Yamal is not building his Ballon d’Or case on numbers.

“The Ballon d’Or in my view has nothing to do with the number of goals scored,” the 19-year-old Barcelona forward told France Football, in comments published this month.

“When I think about the Ballon d’Or, I think of Messi, Ronaldinho, players like that, who are different, who bring a smile when you watch them play,” Yamal said.

‘My style of play is my strongest argument’

Yamal framed his own case on style rather than statistics.

Read also: ‘We didn’t care about football’: Robertson opens up about Liverpool’s grief after Jota’s death

“I think that my style of play is my strongest argument and what makes me different,” he told the magazine, in an interview relayed by Get Football News France.

“Not to a player who has scored 80 goals, because when you score 80 goals, you’re given the top scorer award for the season,” Yamal said, in words carried by beIN Sports.

Asked to define the prize itself, Yamal added:

“The best player in the world is the one who, as a pundit, makes you watch the match and enjoy it.”

Read also: Dembélé names his Ballon d'Or winner: "It will remain in the hands of a PSG player"

Runner-up trying to go one better

Yamal is on the 30-man men’s shortlist unveiled by UEFA and France Football on 8 September, listed there under Spain and Barcelona. He was runner-up 12 months ago and, at 19, would be the youngest player ever to lift the trophy if the vote goes his way.

Palladium venue chosen as a nod to Matthews

The ceremony leaves Paris for the first time in its history. France Football and UEFA have confirmed that the 70th edition will be handed out on 26 October at the London Palladium, a venue chosen as a nod to Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.

Read also: Real Madrid calls for new LaLiga leader as referee row turns into war with Tebas