Lamine Yamal reveals what should decide the Ballon d’Or winner
Lamine Yamal believes his ability to entertain and inspire supporters should be considered alongside statistics when voters decide the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has offered a fresh explanation of his Ballon d’Or case, arguing that the award should recognise more than goals and statistics.
The 19-year-old Spain international, who finished second behind Ousmane Dembélé last year, is again among the nominees for the prestigious individual prize after a season in which he helped Barcelona retain LaLiga before playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph.
Speaking to L’Équipe, Yamal said his style of football remains the strongest argument for his candidacy because he wants supporters to enjoy watching him and feel excited whenever he is on the pitch.
Rather than focusing solely on scoring numbers, he pointed to players such as Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho as examples of footballers whose creativity and individuality made people want to watch them.
Yamal also admitted that winning the Ballon d’Or is one of his ambitions, but insisted it is not an obsession and that he does not measure himself against legends such as Messi or Pelé.
Instead, the teenager wants to build his own identity and eventually be remembered simply as Lamine Yamal. His comments come as the 2026 Ballon d’Or race enters its final weeks, with the ceremony scheduled to take place in London on October 26.
Yamal faces competition from several high-profile players, including Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane, while his previous second-place finish has already established him as a serious contender at just 19.
