Lamine Yamal says he ‘deserves’ Ballon d’Or but Mbappe his main rival

What the report says

Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal said he believes he should win the Ballon d’Or this year, pointing to his team success and individual form, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. In a social media interview clip shared by Spanish streamer Movistar, the teenager said he felt he and Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe were the two best players in the world, and that he would be deserving of the award for what he has won.

The article says Yamal helped Spain win the World Cup in North America and contributed to Barcelona’s successful defence of the La Liga title. He was also named La Liga’s best player for the 2025-26 season. Al Jazeera reported that Yamal had taken a more cautious stance at a news conference earlier in the week, saying he thought he had a chance after an “incredible” season but would not campaign for votes.

Mbappe has also been making his case for the prize, while Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane is among the other contenders mentioned. The report notes that Yamal finished second to Ousmane Dembele in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting, and that Mbappe was third in 2023, when Lionel Messi won a record eighth award. The Ballon d’Or will be presented in London on October 26. More broadly, the comments add to an ongoing debate over who has been the standout footballer of the year.