Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has admitted that his age could work against him in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Speaking candidly to Guardian Sport, the 19-year-old Barcelona and Spain winger expressed concern that voters might overlook his recent achievements because they assume he has plenty of time to win the award in the future.
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Yamal noted that because of his youth, people often defer his success to later years, which could inadvertently favor older candidates
“I think, being totally honest, there is one thing that people I don’t know if they are going to change but I think people think that, as Lamine is 19 years old and Lamine is very good, he is going to win at some point,” he told Guardian Sport.
“So, let’s say Mbappe, Fabian, Rodri, Kvaratskhelia, Messi, Kane.. They think that I will always be there and that I will win eventually.
“For example, Mbappe, the same thing happened to him when he was young. They told him that at some point he will win and, in the end, until now, he doesn’t have any.”
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Moving from his September stance of not “begging” for the honor, Yamal has emphasized that his entertaining style of play is his best case for the award.
The winner will be announced on October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium, competing against players like Kane, Rodri, and Mbappé.
