Abdulawi, the uncle of Lamine Yamal, criticized Harry Kane’s 2026 Ballon d’Or victory, asserting that the Barcelona star deserved the award after finishing third in the standings behind the English striker and Kylian Mbappé.
His comments came during an interview with Cadena SER’s El Larguero program from the family’s café in Rocafonda following the results announcement, where he expressed the disappointment felt by those close to the Spanish winger.
“If you love football, you go to watch Lamine, not Harry Kane,” he said, emphasizing that his nephew’s value on the pitch extends far beyond his goal statistics.
He added that while “Kane is a goalscorer,” Yamal surpasses him as a more entertaining and impactful footballer, citing his dribbling ability, chance creation, and assists alongside his goalscoring output.
Abdulawi rejected arguments linking Yamal’s chances to his youth and future opportunities, contending that having many years ahead of him does not justify favoring an older rival in the current edition.
He cited the 19-year-old’s triumphs in the FIFA World Cup, La Liga, and the Supercopa, insisting that his performances throughout the season were sufficient to win, before predicting that his nephew will claim five Ballons d’Or over the course of his career.
At the London ceremony, Yamal picked up the Kopa Trophy as the best young player for the third consecutive year, yet remained behind Mbappé and Kane in the main award rankings, prolonging his wait for a first Ballon d’Or.
Meanwhile, Kane captured the trophy after bagging 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025–2026 season, securing domestic titles with the Bavarian club and a World Cup bronze medal to become the first Englishman to win the accolade since Michael Owen in 2001.
