Lamine Yamal claims edge over Kylian Mbappé in 2026 Ballon d'Or race

Trophy claims and public campaign

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal stated that his collective silverware gives him the advantage over Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé in the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. In preview clips from an interview on the Movistar Plus+ program Universo Valdano, the 19-year-old forward placed himself and Mbappé at the pinnacle of world football. Yamal pointed to his title-winning campaign with Barcelona in La Liga and Spain's World Cup victory in North America as the decisive factors in his favor. The interview comments differ in tone from his remarks before Barcelona's Champions League match against Feyenoord, when he said he did not need to campaign for the prize. The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on 26 October.

I honestly believe there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I'd deserve it because of what I've won.

Contrast with Mbappé's individual campaign

Yamal's comments follow an interview given by Mbappé to French newspaper L'Équipe, in which the Real Madrid striker argued that no player performed better than him during the 2025-26 season. Mbappé finished the campaign as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, reaching 22 career World Cup goals to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer. He also scored 42 goals for Real Madrid, although the Spanish club concluded the season without winning any team trophies. Mbappé argued that the Ballon d'Or should recognize exceptional individual players, drawing comparisons to the era dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The French forward previously finished third in the 2023 Ballon d'Or voting, while Yamal finished second behind Ousmane Dembélé in 2025. Other contenders named in Spanish reporting for the 30-player shortlist include Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, and Harry Kane.

As far as I'm concerned, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. It's clear to me and everyone who watches the matches knows it.

Internal reflection and club backing

Despite winning both La Liga and the World Cup, Yamal expressed personal dissatisfaction with his displays during the international tournament in North America. The winger entered the World Cup following a recovery from injury and noted that he could have delivered a higher individual level. He emphasized that his tactical contributions, including drawing multiple defenders to create space for teammates, were often overlooked by casual viewers. Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco have both publicly endorsed Yamal's bid for the award in recent weeks. Over the course of the 2025-26 campaign, Yamal registered 24 goals and 18 assists across all competitions and was selected as La Liga's best player.

After winning the World Cup I wasn't happy, because I know that another player with my level would have had a great World Cup, but I could have done more.

Long-term ambition and historical comparisons

Looking beyond the upcoming award ceremony, Yamal addressed comparisons with past figures such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Pelé. The 19-year-old noted that Pelé achieved significant success at a similarly young age, but stated that winning top-tier trophies early in a career would not lead him to become complacent. Yamal stated that he still has numerous objectives left to accomplish to secure his legacy in the sport. The full broadcast of his interview with Jorge Valdano will air on Friday on Movistar Plus+, five weeks ahead of the presentation in London.