Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal happy to do his Ballon d’Or talking on the pitch

Lamine Yamal inspired Spain to a thrilling victory over France in the Nations League on Thursday as La Roja booked a final date with Portugal.

The game had been hyped as a battle for the Ballon d’Or, with Lamine Yamal coming up against France star Ousmane Dembele.

Yet it was Yamal who came out on top, as he scored twice to help secure the victory.

Barca’s teenager was asked about the victory afterwards and his Ballon d’Or chances and says he prefers to do his talking on the pitch.

“I always tell my mother, what motivates me and what drives me to get up in the morning is to play football,” he told the media.

“The best thing is to talk on the pitch. Dembélé is a great player, but we’re in the final.

“France is a great team; they make you suffer, it’s normal. They are players who make you suffer until the end. But we are very happy with the victory.”

Yamal now has the chance to win more silverware on Sunday when Spain go up against Portugal and aim to successfully defend their Nations League title.