After the titles collected with Barcelona and Spain, nineteen-year-old Lamine Yamal has declared that the 2026 Ballon d'Or belongs to him. The Catalan club's winger is convinced that only two players currently stand at the summit of the world game. "I honestly think Kylian Mbappé and I are the best in the world, but given the titles I've won, I really would deserve the award this year," the young star offered when the conversation turned to his chances.
Yet the Spaniard's self-belief is not universally shared. Ousmane Dembélé, who won the prize last year, argues that after Paris Saint-Germain retained the Champions League, European club football's biggest trophy, it should stay with a player from the Parisian side. Harry Kane, the England forward at Bayern Munich, is also being named prominently among the favourites. The identity of the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be revealed officially on 26 October in London.
