Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal says he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, while also putting himself and Kylian Mbappé among the world’s two best players. The comments come after a season in which Yamal is described as having helped Barcelona retain the LaLiga title and played a significant role in Spain’s World Cup-winning run.
Across the outlets, Yamal’s central message is that his combined club and international success gives him the strongest case for the award. Times of India specifically links his claim to Barcelona’s league triumph and Spain’s World Cup success in North America. IOL and Information Nigeria emphasize Yamal’s view that Mbappé and he are the two top players globally, and that his own trophy-laden year merits Ballon d’Or recognition. None of the sources report an award decision, only Yamal’s statements and the achievements he cites.
