Barcelona president defends Lamine Yamal after Ballon d’Or comments

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·15 September 2026

Barcelona president defends Lamine Yamal after Ballon d’Or comments

Lamine Yamal enjoyed another very successful last season as he not only won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with FC Barcelona, but also won the biggest international trophy, the World Cup 2026, with Spain.

Being a star player in both his club and national teams, he is being seen as one of the favorite candidates to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award, which is set to be handed out in October. However, several weeks ahead of the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony, the debate about who will win this award this year is already heating up.

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Several people associated with the Blaugrana club have already asked for the Ballon d’Or to be given to Yamal this year. Although he has previously also voiced his opinion in this regard, the Barcelona president Joan Laporta once again asked for the award for the young winger after attending a dinner with the agent Jorge Mendes. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the top Blaugrana official commented in this regard:

“I would be delighted if Lamine won the Ballon d’Or, and I think he deserves it.”

Laporta also commented on Yamal declaring himself the most suitable candidate to win this award this year:

“Others are doing it too… The world has changed a little: these young players are confident and uninhibited. And he has a natural charm, and he said it in a tone that should be taken in the right spirit.”

“He said that there were two players he considers the best, one of them being himself, and that he had done more to deserve it.”

The Barcelona president went on to explain why Yamal deserves the award this year:

“Let’s not forget that the Ballon d’Or rewards the achievements of an entire season, and Lamine, apart from his individual talent, has also achieved things collectively, such as winning La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and then the World Cup.”

The young winger has also faced some criticism for his comments, but Laporta believed there was nothing out of the ordinary in his statements:

“I haven’t seen those criticisms when other players are doing the same thing. They are young, and young people have changed a lot. They have no inhibitions, and that is one of the reasons they succeed earlier. They have the talent and experience to perform at the highest level, and Lamine is a reference point.”

Barcelona as a club seems to be pushing for the Ballon d’Or to be given to Lamine Yamal, and these latest statements from Joan Laporta are another step in that direction. For now, the winger has continued to play at a very high level, scoring another brace in the last game against Levante, and if he goes on with this form, there would be very little debate left about him being the deserving winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or.