Ballon d’Or 2026: Why Yamal should not win award – Matthäus

Former Bayern Munich star Lothar Matthäus has offered his opinion on why Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal might not be the deserving candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Yamal is among the leading contenders for the prestigious individual accolade after being nominated alongside 30 players. However, Matthäus, who has won the Ballon d’Or in the past, believes that this is not Yamal's year to claim the award.

Despite winning the World Cup and LaLiga title, Matthäus argues that Yamal has not yet reached the level he once achieved. Speaking on the matter, Matthäus stated, "He's an exceptional player, but despite the major success, it wasn’t Lamine Yamal’s year." He acknowledges Yamal's significant contributions to Spain’s World Cup campaign but notes that he has not quite matched his previous performance levels.

Matthäus further adds, "He has everything it takes to be a Ballon d’Or winner, but I believe that titles play a decisive role, which is why I see his chances as better than those of Mbappe, who hasn’t won anything this year with Real Madrid or France."