Yamal says he deserves Ballon d’Or after trophy-laden year
The 19-year-old strengthens his claim after helping Barcelona retain La Liga before becoming world champion with Spain.
Lamine Yamal insists he and Kylian Mbappe are the two greatest players in the world, asserting he deserves the 2026 Ballon d'Or following a trophy-filled year with Barcelona and Spain. The 19-year-old Barcelona winger made these claims in a recent Movistar Plus interview. Yamal helped Barcelona secure La Liga titles before claiming the World Cup with Spain this summer, bolstering his case for the most prestigious individual football award.
He had previously expressed confidence in his chances after an exceptional season but refrained from pressuring voters. Mbappe, the French captain, has also argued his case for the award, having been the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, though Real Madrid did not secure any major trophies. Yamal's Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele, who won the award last year, suggested it should go to a Paris Saint-Germain player instead.
Other contenders include Harry Kane of Bayern Munich and England's international striker. The Ballon d'Or will be presented in London on October 26.
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