Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has declared that he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that he and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe are the two best players in the world.
The 19-year-old made the claim in an interview with Movistar Plus, where he pointed to his achievements with Barcelona and Spain over the past year as justification for winning football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Yamal helped Barcelona retain the La Liga title before playing a key role as Spain won the World Cup this summer, strengthening his credentials for the award.
“For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” Yamal said, adding that he believes his trophy haul makes him deserving of the Ballon d’Or this year.
The Barcelona winger had previously taken a more cautious position on the award, saying he believed he had a strong chance after what he described as an incredible season but would not campaign or beg for votes.
Mbappe, meanwhile, has also emerged as one of the leading contenders. The France captain finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, although Real Madrid ended the season without a major trophy.
Yamal’s confidence comes after another impressive campaign in which he was named La Liga Player of the Season. Barcelona said he finished the league season with 16 goals and 11 assists.
His international success has further strengthened his case, with Spain’s World Cup triumph adding another major trophy to his growing collection.
However, the teenager faces strong competition for the award. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and several Paris Saint-Germain players, including reigning winner Ousmane Dembele, are also among the leading contenders.
Dembele has argued that the award should remain with a PSG player after the French club retained the Champions League, while Kane’s outstanding goalscoring numbers have also put him firmly in contention.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26.
Yamal finished second in last year’s voting behind Dembele and will be hoping to go one step further this time.
