Story perspectives

Lamine Yamal Says He Deserves 2026 Ballon d’Or Win

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 11:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Lamine Yamal says he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
Yamal helped Barcelona win La Liga and was named the league’s best player for 2025-26.
He scored seven goals in six La Liga matches, including three braces.
Yamal also featured in Spain’s World Cup win, scoring once in eight matches.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will be in London on October 26, 2026, with Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé nominated.

History

Historical Context

France Football launched the Ballon d’Or on 18 December 1956, awarding England’s Stanley Matthews the first prize. Originally limited to European players, the award opened to all club-based talent in 1995 and became global in 2007. Seventy years later, Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal, who has scored seven goals in six La Liga games, challenges Harry Kane and 2025 winner Ousmane Dembélé for the 2026 honor.

1 of 2

Story summary

Lamine Yamal says he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
Yamal helped Barcelona win La Liga and was named the league’s best player for 2025-26.
He scored seven goals in six La Liga matches, including three braces.
Yamal also featured in Spain’s World Cup win, scoring once in eight matches.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will be in London on October 26, 2026, with Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé nominated.

1 / 2