Lamine Yamal sends old Ballon d’Or message to Mbappe: “I deserve it”

Next month, the 2026 Ballon d’Or award will be handed out by France Football, and its destination could be Spain. Barcelona have three candidates, and among Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Lamine Yamal, the latter is believed to have the best chance.

Having come 2nd in last year’s award, Lamine Yamal will be hoping to go one better in 2026. He has a strong case, having played a starring role in Barcelona’s successful 2025-26 La Liga season, while also helping Spain win the 2026 World Cup in the summer.

He will have strong competition, with the likes of Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kylian Mbappe also in the running as leading contenders, although Lamine Yamal only sees himself and the Real Madrid man in the race, as he told Universo Valdano (via Diario AS).

“Who would I give it to? To the best in the world. Who are they going to give it to? That’s already a very long conversation. I sincerely believe that as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us. And I think that this year I would deserve it for what I have won. Because for me, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. For me it’s very clear, and everyone who watches the games knows it.”

Who has a better case: Lamine Yamal or Mbappe?

Mbappe has the better individual record, with 42 goals and seven assist for Real Madrid during the 2025-26 season – he was top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League, and also at the 2026 World Cup, as he also became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. However, neither Real Madrid nor France won a trophy, and this will have an impact on his candidacy.

As for Lamine Yamal, he recorded 24 goals and 18 assists on the way to helping Barcelona win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, while he also scored once as Spain won the World Cup. He has success behind him, but ultimately, it is unclear whether this is considered enough to give him his first Ballon d’Or at the age of 19.