Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has said he and Kylian Mbappe are the two best players in the world and believes he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after a successful year with Barcelona and Spain.
“For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” the 19-year-old said in an interview with Movistar Plus, excerpts of which were published on Sunday.
“I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won,” he added.
Yamal helped Barcelona retain the La Liga title before playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph this summer, strengthening his case for the prestigious individual award.
The teenager had adopted a more measured tone at a press conference last Tuesday, saying he believed he had a chance after an “incredible” season but would not beg for votes.
Mbappe has also strengthened his claim in recent weeks. The France captain finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, although Real Madrid failed to win a major trophy.
Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain teammate Ousmane Dembele, who won last year’s award, believes the Ballon d’Or should remain with a Paris Saint-Germain player after the French club retained the Champions League.
Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane is also among the leading contenders for the award, which will be presented in London on October 26.
