Lamine Yamal was named as the world's third best player at the Ballon d'Or ceremony as Harry Kane won the award - leading to backlash from the Barcelona star's family

Lamine Yamal's uncle has opened fire on Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win, insisting football fans want to watch the Barcelona star, not the Bayern Munich striker, and suggested his success owed to his age.

Kane won the award in London on Monday night to cap a sensational individual campaign that saw him star in Germany once again. Heading into the ceremony opinion was split over whether he, Yamal or Kylian Mbappe would scoop the Golden Ball.

Kane became England's first winner in a quarter of a century but Yamal's uncle Abdul Abdellaoui was left seething that the Spanish star missed out on the award for the second straight year.

The teenager did win the Kopa Trophy for a third time on the bounce, but his La Liga success with Barcelona and World Cup triumph was not enough to see him edge out Kane - leaving those close to him particularly frustrated.

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He said in an interview with El Larguero : "Well, the truth is it’s really sad, I feel really bad. My nephew was amazing, he was the best player in the world, everyone knows it. If you like football, you go to see Lamine, not Harry Kane. Harry Kane is a great goalscorer but Lamine is the best player who shines on the pitch and if he’s unlucky, there’s next year."

Yamal has continued to blossom in Catalunya and, despite not turning 20 until next July, he's one of the leading lights for the Spanish outfit. His World Cup success came after he won the Euros only two years ago, but his 24 goals last term were not enough to beat Kane.

His uncle claims that there was a bias towards Kane given the striker is now 33, and clearly closer to the end of his career than the start.

Pushed on why he though Yamal did not win the award, Abdul replied: "Since Lamine is young, they always say he has time, he’s 19, and that’s why they’re not giving him the award. Harry, with only three days of football left, they’re saying, ‘come on, we’ll give him the award’.

"He’s won the World Cup, La Liga, the Super Cup, he plays really well, he’s had an incredible season, he scores goals that nobody else can. Passes, assists, whatever you want. Lamine will win more than one, but the sadness will pass in three days. In a few days he will be fine."