17/6/2025–|Last update: 15:14 (Mecca time)
The 2025 Golden Running Race is limited to Lamine Jamal, Othman Dembele, Barcelona, and Paris Saint -Germain, respectively, with the possibility of another player from the Parisian team in the last race stages.
But from the point of view of veteran Spaniard Sergio Ramos, the Mexican defender of Monterey, another player deserves the crowning of the famous individual award, despite being excluded from most experts.
Ramos is scheduled to participate with Monterei – tomorrow, Wednesday, against Inter Milan, as part of the first round matches of the Fifth Club World Cup.
During the press conference preceding this match, Ramos said that the French Real Madrid star Killian Mbappe is the most prominent candidate from his point of view to win the Golden Ball award.
Although Mbappe did not crowned any great title with Real Madrid last season (2024-2025), Ramos believes that he was the most eligible.
“For me (Killian), the award, is the league’s top scorer and the golden shoe winner. It is true that Real Madrid has not won championships like other teams, but these are individual prizes,” Ramos said.
Mbappé and the Golden Ball
📹 @medinamarca #Fifacwc pic.twitter.com/fLLl3SK06a
– Brand (@marca) June 16, 2025
“I will always give the Golden Ball to Mbabi, and his numbers are talking about him. He has presented a great season. Killian will win 4 or 5 gold balls.”
Ramos praised Lamine Jamal by saying, “For me, he is a strong talent, he achieves unusual numbers for his age, I wish him the best because he represents our country even if he is playing for Barcelona.”
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🎙️| Sergio Ramos: “I wish him the best because he represents our country, even if he plays for Barça…” pic.twitter.com/aP7NAO9e38
— forblaugrana (@forblaugrana) June 17, 2025
Ramos hoped that his former team Real Madrid did not confront during the World Cup clubs, stressing the need to achieve the results that help his team qualify for the exclusionary roles.
“I prefer not to meet them, and if it happens, it will be an honor undoubtedly, but I prefer to collide with other teams. I want to face Atletico Madrid, but let’s first focus on skipping the group stage, then we think in the future,” he added.
Ramos continued that “Real Madrid is a candidate team to win all the championships, because of its level, players and mentality. Also, Xabi Alonso knows the club well, and he won everything when he was a player.”
When asked about his personal preparations to play in the World Cup clubs, he answered, “I have always said that I have the same enthusiasm as if I was a young man. This new event gives me an additional motive undoubtedly.”
He explained that “the pressure is part of football, I have always lived with it and loved it, and it reveals the level of each player. The World Cup – for me – is a challenge and an opportunity to prove that I am still in good condition, as the Club World Cup is a global interface for any player who wants to play in Europe.”
On his team’s chances against Inter, Ramos said, “We prefer to talk on the field, not outside it. We came with great enthusiasm to win, Inter team is stronger on paper, but this is an opportunity to prove ourselves, as it is the small details that resolve the confrontations.”