Lamine Yamal, a forward for Barcelona and Spain, has argued that the 2026 Ballon d’Or should only be given to the best player on the field rather than relying on team trophies and raw goal totals.
The 19-year-old, who won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona, is up against fierce competition from high-scoring opponents like Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.
Yamal responded to the argument by stating that there are already awards specifically for winning team competitions, such as the Champions League, or leading total goal charts.
He underlined that rather than focusing on raw numbers, the Ballon d’Or should honor individual brilliance, game-changing influence, and overall impact.
Yamal backed his own chances for the award, positioning himself alongside Mbappé as leading contenders, confident in his performance over the previous season.
On October 26, the winner will be formally declared in London.
I believe that organizations like Ballon d’Or have well-established procedures and the expertise necessary to identify the overall best player. They possess the knowledge and judgment to look beyond just goal statistics and consider the broader qualities that define true excellence. Therefore, I trust that they are capable of selecting a winner who genuinely reflects the most outstanding all-around performance, and I believe they should do so.
Live with Purpose, Love with Passion. Remember to be happy
One 
Rose Ajieh
