The Barcelona teenager used a Spanish television appearance this week to swat away the suggestion that he and Mbappé should stay quiet about football’s biggest individual prize.
“If Mbappé and I did not speak, people would ask why we are not speaking,” he told Spanish broadcaster TVE.
“I said clearly what I think, and I do not regret what I did.”
Yamal has been accused of campaigning in public since mid-September, when he narrowed the race to two names. His response is that silence would only invite the opposite complaint.
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Yamal’s case: a World Cup and a league title
Yamal set out his argument the day before Mbappé’s own big interview.
“Honestly, as for the best in the world, I think maybe there are two of us, me and Mbappe, but I think this year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won,” the 19-year-old told presenter Jorge Valdano on Movistar+.
He lifted the 2026 World Cup with Spain and won LaLiga with Barcelona last season. His pitch is that collective success should separate him from a candidate with a bigger goal tally.
On TVE this week he added a second line of argument, telling viewers there were “few players who play like me, who make people benefit” and that voters should reward entertainment as well as output.
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Mbappé’s case: the Bernabéu
Mbappé’s answer came on 17 September, in his first one-on-one with a Spanish newspaper. The Real Madrid captain told AS editorial director José Félix Díaz where he thought the award belonged.
“The most important thing for me remains the return of the Ballon d’Or to Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.
He said the trophy should return “to the Bernabéu, to the Madrid fans, to bring joy back to all their hearts,” and built his case around his goal count for club and country rather than team honors. The last Real Madrid player to win the award was Karim Benzema in 2022.
Of Yamal, the Frenchman was generous.
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“I think he is a very talented player, and I have a feeling he will achieve a wonderful career,” he told AS.
After Yamal’s Movistar interview aired, Mbappé repeated the compliment, calling the Spaniard “an extremely talented player” and wishing him a long career ahead of Real Madrid’s meeting with Atlético Madrid.
The winner is announced in London on Monday 26 October. The 30-man shortlist also includes Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé.
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