Lamine Yamal is not waiting for the votes to come in.
In a preview of his upcoming appearance on Universo Valdano, the Barcelona forward was asked directly who deserves the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
“As for the best in the world, I think maybe there are two of us, me and Mbappé, but I think this year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won,” Yamal told the programme.
“It’s very clear, and everyone who watches the matches knows it.”
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His argument is a trophy list. Yamal helped Spain lift a second World Cup on 19 July, when Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute at MetLife Stadium to beat Argentina 1-0. At club level he added the La Liga title, closing the domestic season with 16 goals and 11 assists in the league and being named La Liga Player of the Season.
Kane and Dembélé complete the picture
The 30-man shortlist went public on 8 September. Yamal, Mbappé and England striker Harry Kane are the three leading men’s contenders on the field.
Ousmane Dembélé defends the trophy after his 2025 win at the Théâtre du Châtelet, when Yamal finished as runner-up. Paris Saint-Germain, whose treble-winning season carried Dembélé to the top, again place the largest single-club contingent on the men’s list.
The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or moves to the London Palladium on Monday 26 October, France Football’s first ceremony in the English capital.
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The captain’s armband came at 19
Yamal spoke five days after taking the Barcelona captain’s armband for the first time, at 19 years and 58 days, becoming the club’s youngest-ever first-team captain in Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League win over Feyenoord. The armband passed to him after Raphinha and Pedri were both withdrawn; he curled in a 20-yard free-kick and set up two more.
The previous mark had belonged to Bojan Krkic, who first captained Barcelona at 20 years and 61 days.
The full Universo Valdano interview airs on Movistar+ later this week.
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