Lamine Yamal Claims Ballon d'Or, Faces Mbappe Rivalry

Lamine Yamal, a forward for FC Barcelona, expressed his belief that he deserves the Ballon d'Or this year due to his significant contributions to both his club and the Spanish national team. In an interview shared by a Spanish streaming platform, Yamal stated, “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.” He named Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid as his closest rival for the award.

Yamal highlighted that both he and Mbappe are the top players globally, a sentiment he believes is shared by fans who watch their matches. While Mbappe had a standout performance at the World Cup and in La Liga and the Champions League, he did not secure any titles last season.

Yamal played a crucial role in Spain's World Cup victory in North America and was part of Barcelona's successful title defense in the 2025-26 season. He previously maintained a measured tone regarding his chances for the award, stating he would not beg for votes.