Lamine Yamal backs himself for 2026 Ballon d’Or after Spain World Cup win
Lamine Yamal has put himself forward for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, naming only Kylian Mbappe as a serious rival after Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign.
The 19-year-old Barcelona forward made his case after scoring twice against Valencia, insisting his achievements over the past year make him worthy of football’s biggest individual prize.
Quick facts
- Yamal helped Spain win the World Cup.
- Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Yamal in a key role.
- He produced 24 goals and 18 assists in all competitions.
- Mbappe ended the season without a trophy and lost 2-0 to Spain in the World Cup semi-finals.
- The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for London on 26 October.
Asked who should receive the award, Yamal said the honour should go to the world’s best player. He believes the contest is effectively between himself and Mbappe, adding that his own results and silverware give him the stronger claim.
The Barcelona academy product said the argument was obvious to anyone who had watched his matches. His club output, combined with Spain’s World Cup triumph, has driven his confidence ahead of the vote.
Mbappe has made an equally forceful individual case despite Real Madrid finishing without silverware. France’s captain was beaten by Yamal’s Spain in the World Cup last four, but he has pointed to his goalscoring record on the biggest stages.
The Real Madrid forward has become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer and argues that the Ballon d’Or is an individual distinction, rather than a reward for a player’s trophy haul. Mbappe said he has set winning the prize as a short-term target and believes no player matched his scoring level in major competitions and at the World Cup.
What happens next: Yamal and Mbappe have the opening weeks of the new season to strengthen their cases before the winner is revealed in London on 26 October.
