Lamine Yamal Declares Himself Worthy of 2026 Ballon d’Or

By Benson Daniel

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has boldly declared that he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, placing himself alongside Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé as the leading contenders for the prestigious individual award.

Yamal made the claim after a remarkable season in which he helped Barcelona retain the La Liga title before playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph.

The 19-year-old said he considers himself and Mbappé the two best players in the world at the moment, while arguing that his collection of major honours gives him a strong case for the award.

Yamal’s comments represent a change in tone from his earlier stance on the Ballon d’Or race. Last week, the Barcelona star said he would not campaign or beg for votes, insisting that his performances should speak for themselves.

However, in a more direct assessment of his chances, he has now stated that his achievements make him deserving of the prize.

His claim comes as the competition for this year’s award intensifies. Mbappé has also openly backed his own chances after finishing as the leading scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup.

Despite his individual scoring numbers, Mbappé did not win a major trophy with Real Madrid during the season, a factor that could work in Yamal’s favour when voters assess the candidates.

Yamal, meanwhile, enjoyed significant team success with both Barcelona and Spain. His contribution to Barcelona’s league campaign and Spain’s World Cup-winning run has strengthened his position among the leading contenders.

The teenager also finished as runner-up to Ousmane Dembélé in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting, giving him further experience of competing for the award.

The 2026 shortlist includes several other high-profile names, including Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham and Dembélé. Kane is among the strongest contenders after a prolific campaign with Bayern Munich and England, while Mbappé’s goalscoring record has also placed him firmly in the conversation.

Yamal’s latest declaration is therefore unlikely to settle the debate, but it adds another layer to what is shaping up to be a closely contested Ballon d’Or race.

The winner will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26, with Yamal hoping to go one step further after finishing second in the previous edition.