Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal has declined to launch a media campaign to convince voters of his claim to the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that his performances on the pitch for club and country speak for themselves.
Yamal’s comments came during the pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League opener against Feyenoord, less than 24 hours after Kylian Mbappé declared he would vote for himself if given the choice and argued that winning the award would not be an injustice to other contenders.
Although Yamal did not address Mbappé directly, the timing and wording of his statements served as a clear counter-narrative to the Real Madrid star’s approach, particularly when the Spaniard emphasized that he would not “beg” journalists for votes.
Yamal Rejects Ballon d’Or Campaigning
Speaking on his chances of winning the award, Yamal said: “Winning the Ballon d’Or doesn’t depend on me; it depends on you, the journalists. What we achieved with Barcelona and the national team was incredible, and I believe I have a strong chance after a fantastic year, but we’ll see what happens.”
The 19-year-old added: “I don’t think I need to run a campaign for the Ballon d’Or. Everyone is free to think what they want. I’m proud of what I achieved with my team and my country, and I’m not going to start begging to win anything.”
Yamal also highlighted that any potential triumph would be the result of a team effort, stating: “If I win it, I’ll be grateful to my teammates at Barcelona and the national team, because what we achieved was not the work of a single player.”
His stance contrasted sharply with Mbappé’s recent interview with France Football, where the French forward remarked: “Who would I vote for? I’d vote for myself,” arguing that the individual nature of the award should prioritize individual output over collective trophy tallies.
Mbappé defended his position by pointing to his goalscoring feats in the World Cup and the Champions League, maintaining that making history deserves reward and that his victory “would not be a robbery,” while acknowledging that disagreement is natural because football “is not a dictatorship.”
A Witty Response to Dembélé’s Picks
Mbappé’s comments were not the only topic brought up during the conference; Yamal was also asked about his omission from Ousmane Dembélé’s top-three favorites for the 2026 award.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner had selected Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappé, prompting Yamal to respond with a laugh: “Well, he’s Kylian’s friend, isn’t he?”
The Spanish international quickly added: “Honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I’m very happy with my season. Maybe every time I played against them I did something that made them not like me very much, which is normal.”
He continued: “I have a great relationship with Ousmane, and I understand why he chose other players. I’m confident in what I delivered this year, and everyone saw it, even if he didn’t pick me.”
Yamal remains one of the frontrunners for the award after leading Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title and helping Barcelona secure a second consecutive La Liga crown alongside the Supercopa de España, just a year after finishing runner-up to Dembélé.
Yamal Takes Aim at Real Madrid’s Referee Complaints
Yamal also delivered a firm message to Real Madrid when questioned about their repeated grievances regarding refereeing in La Liga, refusing to lay the blame for their rivals’ title drought on officiating.
“If Real Madrid haven’t won the league in two years, that’s their problem,” the Barcelona star stated. “I don’t know—we’re very happy with the refereeing and everything so far. Those questions should be directed at them.”
Addressing the competition for places within Barcelona’s squad, Yamal insisted he has no fear of rotation: “We have fantastic players. If the manager decides I should be on the bench, I’ll be on the bench. I have to be ready whenever he needs me.”
He also stressed that stardom does not exempt him from defensive duties: “At Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, every player presses and they win trophies. If you don’t run, any team can beat you. If we want to win, we all have to run.”
Yamal identified the UEFA Champions League as his primary upcoming goal, describing it as “the most special” trophy and the one major piece missing from his collection, expressing confidence that Barcelona’s summer signings will help them contend on all fronts.
He concluded by expressing pride at being named one of Barcelona’s team captains at just 19 years old, sharing that he is enjoying the happiest period of his life following the World Cup triumph. He credited his family and senior teammates in the locker room for helping him handle fame and pressure ahead of the Ballon d’Or winner announcement on October 26 in London.
