Lamine Yamal Says He Deserves 2026 Ballon d'Or Alongside Mbappe - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal has named himself and Kylian Mbappe as the two best players in the world right now.

The 19-year-old also believes he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or following a stellar season with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

"In my opinion, Mbappé and I are the two best players in the world," Yamal told Movistar, as quoted by beIN Sports on Monday, September 14, 2026, as cited by Antara.

Yamal went on to emphasize that his achievements throughout the season provide a strong case for why he merits football's most prestigious individual award.

"I truly think that, regarding the best player in the world, there might be two of us, and this year I deserve it because of what I've won," Yamal said.

Yamal certainly has a strong case for contending for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. He helped Barcelona retain the La Liga title before leading Spain to become world champions this past summer.

This string of achievements has made Yamal a serious contender for the award given to the world's best player.

However, just days earlier, Yamal had made a more cautious statement.

He acknowledged having a chance to win the Ballon d'Or after a season he described as "extraordinary." Yet, he insisted he would not beg voters to cast their ballots for him.

On the other hand, Mbappé also boasts an impressive record that makes him a strong candidate. The French national team captain finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup.

Nevertheless, Mbappé's individual feats were not fully matched by success at Real Madrid; the Spanish capital club failed to win any major trophies that season.

The rivalry between Yamal and Mbappé has become a major talking point ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or announcement.

Beyond the two of them, the competition involves other big names. Lamine Yamal's teammate at Barcelona and with the Spanish national team—Ousmane Dembélé, who won the Ballon d'Or last year—believes the award should go to a Paris Saint-Germain player. PSG is well-positioned after successfully retaining the Champions League title. That success has put several of the French club's players back in the conversation as Ballon d'Or candidates.

Bayern Munich striker and England national team captain Harry Kane is also considered a strong contender for the award.

The winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on October 26, 2026.