Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has positioned himself alongside Kylian Mbappe as one of the two top contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or following a successful season both at club and international levels. In an interview with Movistar Plus, the 19-year-old expressed confidence in his candidacy, highlighting his contributions to Barcelona’s La Liga title defense and Spain’s World Cup victory this summer.

“For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” Yamal said, adding that he believes both deserve recognition as the best player globally. “This year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won,” he noted.

Yamal’s remarks come after a more restrained statement earlier in the week, where he acknowledged the strength of the competition but stopped short of campaigning openly for votes. Meanwhile, Mbappe, the France captain, has also been actively making his case. He finished as the top scorer in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the World Cup, even though his club, Paris Saint-Germain, did not secure a major title, and La Liga champion Real Madrid fell short of trophies this season.

Adding a different perspective, Ousmane Dembele, Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain teammate and the Ballon d’Or winner from the previous year, voiced support for a Paris Saint-Germain player to retain the award. Dembele cited PSG’s Champions League title defense as a strong argument in favor of Mbappe or another player from the club.

Bayern Munich striker and England international Harry Kane is also considered among the frontrunners for the award, which is scheduled to be presented in London on October 26.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or race appears poised to be highly competitive, featuring multiple players with strong individual and team accomplishments throughout the year.