Barcelona forward, Lamine Yamal, don openly talk say na him deserve to carry di 2026 Ballon d’Or afta him strong season for club and kontri.
Yamal make di statement on Monday, September 14, 2026, for interview wey he grant Jorge Valdano, as di fight for this year individual football award dey enter serious stage.
Di 19-year-old Spanish star point to two major achievements wey strengthen him case: Barcelona winning La Liga and Spain winning di 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yamal also receive di award for La Liga best player for di 2025–26 season.
According to Yamal, na him and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé dey among di two best players for di world at di moment. But when dem ask am who suppose collect di Ballon d’Or, Yamal choose himself, talk say wetin he win for di season give am strong reason to believe say na him suppose get di honour.
Di Barcelona player don earlier take more quiet position on di award. For September 8, he talk say he no wan beg journalists for votes or run campaign for di prize, because he believe say him performance for football field suppose speak for itself.
Yamal’s main competition include Mbappé, who get impressive individual numbers for Real Madrid and France. Mbappé finish di 2026 World Cup as top scorer, while Real Madrid forward also lead scoring charts for La Liga and Champions League. But unlike Yamal, Mbappé no win major trophy with Real Madrid last season.
Di difference between di two players don make di 2026 Ballon d’Or race one of di most closely watched individual football contests. Yamal get major team success with Barcelona and Spain, while Mbappé get stronger individual scoring figures.
Last year, Yamal finish second for di Ballon d’Or voting behind Ousmane Dembélé, while Mbappé finish third. Di experience don put Yamal among di leading names for this year award.
Di final decision no dey inside Yamal hand. Football journalists go vote for di winner, and di 2026 Ballon d’Or winner go receive di award for London on October 26.
For now, Yamal don make him position clear: he believe say di combination of him performance, La Liga success and World Cup victory make am deserving of football’s biggest individual honour.
Lamine Yamal don talk say na him deserve di 2026 Ballon d’Or after winning di World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona.