Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or vote count revealed after third-place finish

Lamine Yamal secured a third-place finish in the 2026 Ballon d’Or standings, with France Football releasing the voting figures that showcased the fierce competition. The Barcelona forward amassed 881 points, trailing behind Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and the eventual winner, Harry Kane. At 19 years old, Yamal entered the ceremony as one of the leading contenders for the prestigious individual award.

Although he fell short of the main prize, he retained the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year, solidifying his reputation as one of the brightest young players in football.

The final tally revealed that Kane edged out Mbappe by a margin of just 28 points, with Kane earning a total of 1,055 points and Mbappe collecting 1,027. Yamal's 881 points placed him 146 points behind the Real Madrid attacker. However, the Barcelona teenager still garnered significant support from the international jury, with 13 journalists placing him first on their ballots.

Interestingly, the distribution of support between Yamal and his Spanish teammate Rodri, who finished fourth with 726 points and garnered 10 first-place votes, played a role in Yamal's Ballon d’Or chances. According to Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, the presence of two prominent Spanish candidates may have divided support, making it harder for either player to emerge as the clear individual choice from Spain's World Cup-winning campaign.

It's more accurate to describe this as a potential disadvantage rather than a direct cost to Yamal's award chances.

Despite missing out on the top honour, Yamal has reason to celebrate, as he has now finished on the Ballon d’Or podium for the second consecutive year. His second-place finish in 2025 and third-place conclusion this time demonstrate his ambition and competitiveness at the highest level. The young forward has ample time to pursue the award again, expressing his trust in his path and excitement for future achievements.