Yamal backs himself for 2026 Ballon d’Or after World Cup, La Liga wins

Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 2 football match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, on October 1, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has declared himself deserving of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, putting himself and Real Madrid rival Kylian Mbappe ahead of the field in the race for the prestigious individual award.

Yamal said his case was strengthened by Barcelona’s La Liga triumph and Spain’s World Cup victory, while Mbappe’s claims are built largely around his individual scoring numbers despite Real Madrid ending last season without a major trophy.

“I honestly believe there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I’d deserve it because of what I’ve won.

“As far as I’m concerned, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. It’s clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it,” Yamal said in an interview with Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus+, excerpts of which were released ahead of the full programme on Monday.

Yamal was named La Liga’s best player for the 2025-26 season after helping Barcelona retain the title before playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in North America.

The 19-year-old had taken a more measured position last week, saying he believed he had a chance of winning the award but would not campaign for votes.

• La Liga: Yamal double helps Barca edge Levante 4-2
• Madrid loanee Mastantuono breaks Messi’s record with Serie A hat-trick
• La Liga: Mbappe scores twice as Madrid thrash Rayo Vallecano 4-1

Mbappe, however, has also openly backed his own candidacy after a prolific season in which he finished as the leading scorer at the World Cup, in La Liga and in the Champions League.

The France captain said last week that he did not believe any player had a better season than him, while arguing that the Ballon d’Or is an individual award despite the importance of team success.

Yamal and Mbappe have already faced each other on the biggest stages, with Spain beating France in the World Cup semi-final before going on to win the tournament.

Yamal was runner-up to Ousmane Dembele in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting, while Mbappe finished third in 2023 when Lionel Messi claimed the award for a record eighth time.

Dembele, who retained the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain last season, has also backed another PSG player for this year’s award.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced in London on October 26.

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.