Lamine Yamal says he ‘deserves’ Ballon d’Or but Mbappe his main rival

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has publicly stated his belief that he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The 19-year-old expressed this view during an interview on Movistar Plus, citing his recent trophy-laden campaign with both his club and the Spanish national team as the basis for his candidacy.

In his assessment of the current football landscape, Yamal identified Kylian Mbappe as his primary rival for the honor. He characterized himself and the French forward as the two best players in the world, positioning their performances as the benchmark for the prestigious individual award.