Lamine Yamal Says Ballon d’Or Should Reward the Best Player, Not Just Goals

Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal has pushed back against using raw goal counts and team trophies to decide the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting the award should simply go to the single best player on the pitch.

The 19-year-old, who won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, faces stiff competition from high-scoring rivals like Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé.

 

Addressing the debate, Yamal argued that winning team competitions like the Champions League or leading total goal charts already have their own dedicated awards.

 

He emphasized that the Ballon d'Or should celebrate individual brilliance, game-changing influence, and overall impact rather than raw statistics.

Confident in his performance over the past season, Yamal backed his own chances for the honor, placing himself alongside Mbappé as top contenders.

 

The winner will be officially announced in London on October 26.