Joan Laporta had barely left the London Palladium on Monday night before he was already looking past the night’s winner.
Harry Kane had just become the first Englishman to lift the Ballon d’Or in 25 years, taking the men’s award at the 70th edition of the ceremony ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s 19-year-old Lamine Yamal. For the Barcelona president, that third-place finish was not a defeat but a down payment.
Speaking in comments reported by Goal, Laporta said he had no doubt the trophy would eventually land in the Catalan capital.
“I am convinced that he will win the Ballon d’Or, I don’t know when, but he deserved it.”
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Laporta framed Yamal’s three straight top-three appearances as a career already outside the normal arc, pointing out that the forward has been performing at this level since the age of 16 and calling it a unique achievement that deserves praise.
Three podium finishes before 20
The numbers help explain Laporta’s confidence. Yamal finished 8th at the 2024 Ballon d’Or, second in 2025, and third this year, according to Yahoo Sports’ breakdown of the vote. He also collected his third consecutive Kopa Trophy as the world’s best under-21 player.
His 2025-26 campaign, which carried him into this top three, produced 25 goals and 20 assists in 57 appearances, with 16 goals and 12 assists in La Liga as Barcelona won the title. Kane’s season was the one that could not be matched: 73 goals in 65 matches, 61 for Bayern Munich and 12 for England.
Before the ceremony, Laporta had already told TNT Sports that a Yamal victory would be “only fair”, pointing to the player’s La Liga and World Cup titles. He also waved away the idea that Yamal’s public confidence was a problem, calling him “a very sincere, very straightforward and very young lad”.
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Laporta backs Flick after Clasico defeat
Laporta’s night in London followed a difficult Sunday in Catalonia. Barcelona had lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in the Clasico on 25 October, with Mbappé scoring in the 41st minute, Raphinha equalising in the 61st, and Mbappé settling the game in the 87th.
The president refused to let either result darken the mood around the club. On the Clasico, Laporta told Goal, Barcelona’s ambitions for the season had not changed, and the loss had to be accepted “in a sporting spirit” and used as motivation to move forward.
He also publicly backed head coach Hansi Flick, who has prioritised rest and recovery after back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Laporta said he remained proud of his players and his coach and urged supporters to feel reassured about the direction of the squad.
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