Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal says he deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or after a remarkable season that saw him help Spain win the World Cup and Barcelona retain the La Liga title.
The 19-year-old identified Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe as his main rival for the prestigious individual award, saying both players stand out among the best in the world.
“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,” Yamal said in an interview clip shared by Spanish streaming platform Movistar on Sunday.
“As far as I’m concerned, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. It’s clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it.”
Yamal enjoyed an outstanding 2025-26 campaign with Barcelona, helping the club successfully defend its La Liga title.
His performances earned him the award for La Liga’s best player for the season, further strengthening his credentials for the Ballon d’Or.
He later played a key role in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign in North America, adding international success to his domestic achievements.
The combination of club and international honours has placed Yamal among the leading contenders for this year’s individual prize.
Yamal had previously taken a more measured approach when discussing his chances of winning the award. At a news conference last Tuesday, he said he believed he had a chance after an “incredible” season but stressed that he would not beg for votes.
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Mbappe is also regarded as one of the leading contenders after an impressive individual campaign with Real Madrid and France.
The France international finished as the leading scorer at the World Cup and also topped the scoring charts in La Liga and the Champions League.
Mbappe said last week that he believed no player had performed better than him during the previous season.
However, his bid for the award faces a challenge because he did not win major silverware with Real Madrid during the campaign. Yamal, by contrast, can point to both domestic and international trophies as part of his case.
Yamal finished as runner-up to Ousmane Dembele in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting. Dembele has also made a case for another Paris Saint-Germain player to win the award after the French club retained the Champions League.
The PSG forward believes the prestigious individual prize should remain with a player from the French club following its continued success in European football.
Mbappe, meanwhile, finished third in the 2023 Ballon d’Or voting, when Lionel Messi claimed the award for a record eighth time.
Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane is also among the players considered contenders for this year’s award. Kane’s performances have strengthened his position in a field that includes Yamal, Mbappe and Dembele.
The competition is expected to remain closely contested as the leading candidates make their final cases for the individual honour.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on Oct. 26, when the winner of the prestigious award will be announced.
Al Jazeera
