Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has made his position clear in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that he deserves to win the prestigious individual award after a remarkable season with both club and country.
The 19-year-old winger believes he and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe stand out among the leading contenders. Yamal’s confidence comes after helping Barcelona retain the La Liga title before playing a key role in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign.
Yamal was also named La Liga’s best player for the 2025/26 season and finished as runner-up in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting. Mbappe, meanwhile, strengthened his case with an impressive scoring campaign, finishing as the leading scorer in the World Cup, La Liga and Champions League, although Real Madrid ended the season without a major trophy...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The Ballon d’Or criteria place individual performances first, followed by collective achievements and sporting conduct. The winner will be determined by an international jury of journalists, with the 2026 ceremony scheduled to take place in London on October 26.
With several elite players included among the nominees, the contest is expected to remain closely watched as football fans await the final announcement.
