Yamal changes stance on Messi’s Ballon d’Or bid
Lamine Yamal, a 19-year-old forward for Barcelona and Spain, discussed Lionel Messi’s case for the 2026 Ballon d’Or in a September interview with L’Équipe.
Weeks earlier, Yamal had described himself and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé as the world’s 2 best players. In the later interview, he praised the other nominees and acknowledged Messi’s World Cup performance. The 30-player men’s shortlist was announced on September 8.
Yamal once called it a 2 man race
Lamine Yamal framed Kylian Mbappé as his main rival for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, saying the 2 of them were the best players in the world. “Mbappé and I are the two best players in the world,” Yamal said, adding that people who watched the matches already knew it.
His comments came as the Ballon d’Or field included several other notable nominees, including Lionel Messi, Rodri and defending winner Ousmane Dembélé. France Football announced the 30-man men’s shortlist on September 8, 2026, before the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.
Yamal now says every nominee has a case
In his September 2026 L’Équipe interview, Yamal said the other 29 nominees are all incredible players and their spot on the list does not surprise him. He noted each contender brings a distinct argument for winning the award.
Yamal pointed to Messi’s strong showing at the 2026 World Cup as the basis for his case. He added that fans who see Messi or Rodri as deserving are being reasonable, a clear reversal from his earlier two-man framing.
Why Yamal’s comments draw attention
The 2026 Ballon d’Or has a 30-player men’s shortlist. A jury of 100 journalists, representing the 100 highest-ranked countries in the FIFA rankings used for the award, votes on performances during a reference period running from August 3, 2025, through July 19, 2026.
Yamal’s September remarks added to the public discussion of the nominees. He first described himself and Mbappé as the world’s 2 best players, then praised the other contenders and acknowledged Messi’s and Rodri’s cases.
Messi returns to the list chasing a 9th win
Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, is nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after missing the shortlist in both 2024 and 2025. A win would give him a record extending 9th trophy, a mark no other player is close to matching.
Messi’s case rests partly on his form for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, where his team reached the final before losing to Spain. Yamal cited that World Cup run as the reason Messi’s name belongs in the conversation.
Rodri brings a World Cup captaincy to his case
Rodri, the Barcelona midfielder who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, is nominated again in 2026 after captaining Spain to the World Cup title. Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute after Argentina was reduced to 10 players. Rodri lifted the trophy as captain, giving his Ballon d’Or bid a major international title.
Mbappe pairs club form with a scoring title
Kylian Mbappe, now with Real Madrid, was the player Yamal originally paired himself with when calling the Ballon d’Or a 2-man race. Mbappe strengthened his own case by finishing as the leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup.
Like several other contenders, Mbappe has given numerous interviews during the campaign period leading up to the ceremony. His mix of club performances and a World Cup scoring title gives voters a clear statistical case to weigh.
Yamal argues the award should not be just goals
Speaking to L’Équipe, Yamal said goals and trophies alone should not decide the Ballon d’Or. The 19-year-old discussed his own achievements while describing Messi and former Barcelona star Ronaldinho as players he associates with the award.
Yamal helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup and is among the nominees for the October ceremony.
Fun fact: Lamine Yamal set a national record when he debuted for the Lamine Yamal senior team against Georgia at 16 years and 57 days old.
The full 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist explained
France Football unveiled 30 men’s nominees on September 8, 2026, alongside a separate 30-player women’s shortlist. Paris Saint-Germain leads all clubs with 10 players named, reflecting the team’s run to the Champions League title.
Defending champion Ousmane Dembele returns after another strong PSG campaign, while past winner Cristiano Ronaldo is absent from the list. The shortlist also includes Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice among the 30 names.
Ceremony moves to London for the first time
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on October 26 in London, the first time the awards have been staged in the city. This year marks the award’s 70th anniversary; Stanley Matthews won the first men’s Ballon d’Or in 1956.
The ceremony will also recognize men’s and women’s winners in young-player, goalkeeper, coach and club categories.
Harry Kane is also campaigning hard this year
Harry Kane has remained a prominent voice during the 2026 Ballon d’Or conversation, with media appearances adding attention to an already impressive season. The Bayern Munich forward finished the 2025/26 campaign with 61 goals in all competitions and won the European Golden Shoe after scoring 36 Bundesliga goals.
His numbers give him a strong statistical case, while his public appearances keep him part of the wider conversation around this year’s award. Kane has also described the past season as the best of his career, after helping Bayern win the Bundesliga and DFB Cup.
Yamal’s early remark had belittled other bids
Reporting on the shift noted that Yamal’s original 2-man claim had effectively dismissed the credentials of players like Rodri and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. That framing drew attention because it came from one of the sport’s most watched young stars.
His more measured September comments generated attention for the opposite reason, coming across as balanced rather than bold. Neither statement directly changes a ballot, but both help set the tone heading into the October 26 vote.
Lamine Yamal’s personal life has drawn growing attention alongside his rise in soccer. Explore why Inside Lamine Yamal’s relationship with Inés García offers a closer look at the story behind the headlines.
What happens next in the Ballon d’Or race
Voting for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or is scheduled to close on September 28. The men’s and women’s winners will be announced at the October 26 ceremony at the London Palladium.
The men’s shortlist includes Yamal, Messi, Mbappé, Rodri, Dembélé and Kane. A jury of 100 journalists, 1 from each of the 100 highest-ranked countries in the FIFA rankings used for the award, selects the men’s winner. Each juror ranks 10 players, who receive 15 points for first place down to 1 point for 10th.
Yamal’s parade antics have added another memorable moment to his growing spotlight. Lamine Yamal mocks Paredes with a viral parade sign, showing what sparked the playful exchange.
Do you think Messi deserves a 9th Ballon d’Or, or should Yamal, Mbappe, or Rodri win it? Tell us below.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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