Rafael Leao had seen it up close. On Tuesday night in Istanbul he had watched Lamine Yamal lay on two assists as Barcelona came from behind to beat Galatasaray 4-1, with Hansi Flick’s side turning the tie around in the second half.
Asked about the teenager in an online interview with Brazilian broadcaster TNT Sports Brasil, the Portugal winger did not hesitate.
“I hope Lamine Yamal wins the Ballon d’Or and big trophies with Barca. He is among the best in the world, and I really appreciate him both as a player and as a person. He is surrounded by excellent players at this outstanding club.”
Leao left AC Milan at the end of August, with the Rossoneri confirming the permanent move to Galatasaray on 30 August after seven seasons in Serie A.
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A chorus from inside Barcelona
The endorsement lands less than two weeks before the ceremony and continues a run of public backing from inside the Spanish champions.
A day before the Istanbul tie, Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi was asked at the pre-match press conference whether Yamal deserved the award.
“Everyone in the world already knows that he is the best in the world. Although he says it, people also see it on the field. He deserves the Ballon d’Or,” Cubarsi told reporters.
Cubarsi is on the 30-man shortlist himself, alongside Yamal and summer arrival Rodri. In Istanbul, Fermín López added his own line after the final whistle, calling Yamal “the best in the world”.
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Yamal’s numbers, and Kane’s
Yamal’s statistical case is on the record: 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances for Barcelona in 2025-26, a La Liga title, and 120 minutes on the pitch as Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final in July.
The teenager is not alone at the top of the market. Harry Kane finished the Bayern Munich season with 61 goals in 51 games and has swapped the lead of the betting with Yamal through the autumn. One Sports Illustrated snapshot in September had Kane at -170 and Yamal at +350; more recent lists have narrowed the gap sharply.
France Football’s gala is scheduled for Monday, 26 October at the London Palladium, with the ceremony starting at 8pm local time.
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