Lamine Yamal has defended his chances of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or after helping Spain secure the World Cup, insisting that his trophy haul gives him a strong case for football’s most prestigious individual award.

The Barcelona winger has emerged as one of the central figures in the Ballon d’Or conversation following an impressive 2025–26 campaign and Spain’s World Cup triumph. With the award ceremony approaching, Yamal has addressed the debate surrounding his candidacy and explained why he believes he deserves to be considered among the leading contenders.

Yamal: “I’d Deserve It Because of What I’ve Won”

Yamal has been relatively measured when discussing the Ballon d’Or, but he has also made his position clear.

In a recent interview, the Spain international argued that his achievements during the season give him a legitimate claim to the award. He pointed specifically to the major trophies he won with Barcelona and Spain.

“This year I’d deserve it because of what I’ve won.”

For Yamal, the argument is not simply about individual statistics. His case is built around a combination of individual performances and team success.

Barcelona retained La Liga, while Spain went on to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The latter achievement has added another major dimension to the Ballon d’Or debate, given the historical importance of World Cup performances in discussions surrounding the award.

World Cup Victory Changes the Conversation

Before the World Cup, the Ballon d’Or race was already attracting considerable attention, with several elite players competing for recognition.

Spain’s success, however, has changed the context of the debate.

Yamal played an important role in Spain’s tournament campaign, although he did not receive the individual Golden Ball award. That honour went to Rodri, who was named the tournament’s best player.

Nevertheless, winning the World Cup gives Yamal another major team achievement to place alongside his domestic success with Barcelona.

The winger’s supporters can therefore point to a season in which he contributed to success at both club and international level.

Yamal Identifies Mbappé as a Major Rival

Yamal has also acknowledged the strength of the competition.

He has identified Kylian Mbappé as one of his principal rivals in the Ballon d’Or race and described the French forward as one of the best players in the world.

The comparison between the two players has become one of the major talking points surrounding the award. Both have enjoyed outstanding seasons, but their cases are based on somewhat different factors.

Mbappé’s candidacy is strongly associated with his goalscoring output and individual performances, while Yamal’s case includes his creative contribution, dribbling ability, domestic success and World Cup triumph.

Strong Numbers for Barcelona

Yamal’s statistical record has also strengthened his claim.

During the 2025–26 campaign, he recorded 24 goals and 17 assists in 45 appearances for Barcelona.

Those numbers underline his importance to the Catalan club despite his young age.

His ability to create chances, beat defenders and contribute directly to goals has made him one of the most influential attacking players in European football.

Yamal has also been noted for his dribbling numbers, reportedly leading Europe’s top five leagues in completed dribbles during the campaign.

These statistics form an important part of the argument for his Ballon d’Or candidacy because the award is not determined solely by the number of trophies won.

“I’m Not Going to Beg”

Interestingly, Yamal has also tried to distance himself from the idea of campaigning aggressively for the award.

Earlier in September, he said that the Ballon d’Or would ultimately be decided by the voters and that he was not going to “beg” for the prize.

That position contrasts somewhat with his later statement that he believes he deserves the award.

His comments suggest that Yamal recognizes both sides of the debate: he believes his achievements make him worthy of the Ballon d’Or, but he also accepts that the final decision rests with the voters.

Who Will Win the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

The final decision will depend on the voting process and the criteria considered by the Ballon d’Or electorate.

Yamal’s case includes several major achievements: La Liga success with Barcelona, a World Cup victory with Spain, 24 goals, 17 assists and exceptional dribbling statistics.

At the same time, other contenders have their own individual and team accomplishments, meaning the race remains a major talking point in world football.

The fact that Yamal himself has publicly defended his candidacy adds another layer to the debate. At only 19 years old, he is already competing for the biggest individual prize in football against established global stars.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26. Until the votes are counted, the debate over whether Yamal’s World Cup victory and club achievements are enough to secure the award will continue.

For now, Yamal’s message is straightforward: after winning major trophies for both Barcelona and Spain, he believes he has done enough to deserve consideration for the Ballon d’Or.