Barcelona Star Lamnine Yamal has made a bold case for himself ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony. He insisted that he deserves to win the prestigious award following a remarkable season for the club and country. The 19-year-old Spanish winger enjoyed a trophy-laden 2025-26 campaign, helping Barcelona secure the La Liga title before starring in Spain’s triumphant 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. His performances have once again placed him among the leading contenders for the biggest individual honour in football.
Last year, he finished as the runner up in the Ballon d’Or rankings, finishing as runner-up behind Ousmane Dembele. However, this season, he is considered as one of the top contenders to take the trophy home.
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Lamine Yamal Makes a Case for Himself; Says he Deserves Ballon d’Or
This season, the 19-year-old is making a strong case for himself and is not shying away from putting himself forward for the award. Speaking to Movistar, he identified Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe as his closest competitor. “Mbappe and I, we are the two best in the world. But I think I am the one who deserves to win the Ballon d’Or,” he said. Not only this, but the youngster also believes that such honour at a young age gives him a strong argument for the award. “I believe I deserve this Ballon d’Or because of the titles I have won and achieved last season. That’s my view,” he added.
This is not it. According to him, the 19-year-old is of the opinion that his early success surpasses football greats as well. While acknowledging careers of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona, he said that there are only few players who have reached at his level of success at such an early age. “There are great players like Messi, Cristiano and Maradona, but I think it’s never happened before that someone has won so much at such an early age,” he said. “There was Pelé, but in recent times, never, I think,” the Spaniard stated.
