Gerard Martin backs Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or: ‘He is the best’ | OneFootball

The Ballon d’Or is under the spotlight in the final days before voting closes. FC Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal happens to be one of the favourites to win the top prize, although competition exists in the form of Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane.

The 19-year-old attacker has received a lot of support and backing from his Barcelona and Spain teammates, while legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o have also endorsed his candidature.

Gerard Martin supports Lamine

Now, another Barcelona star, Gerard Martin, has come out and shown support to the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner.

Indeed, the versatile defender is clear about his favourite. Like several of his Barcelona teammates, the full-back backs Lamine.

“Many things are taken into consideration, but the Ballon d’Or should go to the best player, and the best is Lamine Yamal,” he said in an interview with TV3 (h/t MARCA).

Favourite for Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

At the same time, though he also took the opportunity to highlight Pau Cubarsi and recognise the outstanding season produced by the young centre-back.

“But Cubarsi should also be there, if not on the podium then very high up, because he has had a great season,” Martin remarked.

“Perhaps centre-backs are not as high-profile as players in other positions, but the season he has had at his age is very good and he has done enough.”

Highlighting collective development

Martin is also going through an important period himself. The defender is close to making his 100th appearance for Barcelona, a figure that reflects his progression and consolidation within the team, first as a left-back and now as a left-footed centre-back.

Martin is closing in on his 100th appearance. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

At a collective level, he believes Barcelona have become a more mature side than before, which could take them closer to the UEFA Champions League.

“Now we would not let a game get away from us like we did two years ago against Inter in the Champions League, because since that day the team has gained more experience and is much more mature,” he said.

“We have learned to manage different phases of matches and decisive moments in which perhaps we were too impulsive at the time, because we went at everything at 100%,” Martin concluded.