Barcelona Backs Lamine Yamal Over Rodri for Ballon d'Or

Barcelona midfielder Rodri disclosed in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that the club has decided not to vote for him in the 2026 Ballon d'Or race. Instead, Barcelona will support Lamine Yamal, asserting that he is the player most deserving of the award.

Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024 while playing for Manchester City, acknowledged the club's decision, stating, “They say he’s the player most deserving of the award, and that’s completely legitimate.” Both Rodri and Yamal are included in the 30-man nominees' shortlist for this year’s Ballon d'Or, with Yamal aiming to secure the prestigious award for the first time. Rodri expressed hope that a Spanish player would ultimately win the accolade.