Laporta: Yamal Deserved to Win the Ballon d'Or

Barcelona President Joan Laporta said forward Lamine Yamal deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or award.

Operativ Media reports that Laporta, in comments to Sport.es, said those deciding the winner favored another player and that the club accepts the decision.

He emphasized that while he does not know when Yamal will receive the award, the Spanish player has achieved enough to win it.

The club president stressed the importance of supporting the 19-year-old forward, adding that Yamal is a top-level player whom the club is proud of and will support to win the Ballon d'Or in the future.

The Ballon d'Or presentation ceremony took place on October 26 at London's Palladium Theatre. Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane won the award, Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe finished second, and Lamine Yamal took third place.

At the ceremony, the Spanish footballer was named the best under-21 player for the third consecutive season.

In the 2025–26 season, Yamal made 45 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona, scoring 24 goals and providing 17 assists. He won the Spanish league title and the Super Cup with the team and was named La Liga Player of the Season.

Yamal also won the World Cup with the Spanish national team in the summer of 2026.