2026 Ballon d’Or: Dembele names two players who should share award

Lamine Yamal is reinforcing his hopes for a Ballon d’Or win, arguing that the ability to entertain fans should be given equal importance to goals, assists and titles in the decision-making process. The Barcelona forward has been a standout performer this year and has made it clear that he deserves to be considered for football's top individual honor.

While Yamal previously highlighted the collective success of Barcelona and Spain, this time he placed more focus on what distinguishes his playing style from his competitors. The teenager feels his performances have put him in a strong position in the Ballon d’Or race, especially after what he considers a successful year with both teams, albeit without the coveted Champions League trophy.

Yamal acknowledges this as a noticeable gap in Barcelona's season, but he believes individual brilliance should be valued beyond just the number of trophies won. Central to Yamal's strongest argument is his unique ability to entertain supporters. The Barcelona star contends that the entertainment factor of his football should also be taken into account when voters decide the Ballon d’Or winner.

"There are few players who play like me and who entertain the crowd as much as I do, and that should count towards winning the Ballon d’Or," Yamal asserts. This self-assured stance, which Yamal has consistently demonstrated, has not gone unnoticed, and has even drawn criticism from some quarters. However, he remains unfazed and shows no signs of altering his approach to expressing his ambitions.

"People ask me to be honest and then (when I say what I think) they ask why I’ve said that," Yamal explains. He clarifies that it's simply how he is, and he intends to continue being that way until his retirement.