Lamine Yamal has made it clear he will not campaign for the Ballon d’Or, telling a press conference days ago that he refuses to beg for the honor. Yet the Barcelona winger firmly believes he deserves the award, a stance he has repeated across multiple appearances. With voting closing on September 28 and the ceremony set for October 26 at the London Palladium, the 19-year-old is building a compelling case through sheer performance.
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Yamal features among 30 finalists that read like a who’s who of world football: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Rodri Hernández, Fabián Ruiz, Bruno Fernandes, and Ferran Torres. The competition is fierce, but Yamal’s recent output places him squarely in the conversation.
Direct Claim to the Top Spot
Speaking on Universo Valdano on Movistar Plus, the La Masia graduate delivered his boldest statement yet:
“Mbappé and I are the two best, but I think I would deserve the Ballon d’Or,”
stated the teenager, framing the race as a two-horse contest while staking his personal claim.
Numbers That Demand Attention
Yamal’s start to the season provides statistical backing for his confidence. Across six matches—five in LaLiga and one in the Champions League—he has registered seven goals and two assists. The most striking stretch came in his last four outings against Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Levante, and Feyenoord, where he scored in every game, including braces in all three domestic fixtures.
Those six league goals put him among the Pichichi leaders alongside Camello, Mbappé, and Raphinha.
Institutional Backing From Barcelona
While Yamal insists he needs no campaign, his club is openly championing his candidacy. Vice-president Rafa Yuste offered a pointed endorsement:
“I hope justice is done and they give it to Lamine,”
Yuste commented hours ago. President Joan Laporta went further in remarks days earlier:
“He is one of the big favorites and I would love for him to win it. He is spectacular. He has exceptional quality. He is a genius,”
Laporta said. Teammates have also publicly argued that the winger merits the coveted trophy.
Voting Criteria and Remaining Window
The 100 journalism professionals casting ballots weigh three pillars: decisive and impressive individual performances; collective results and titles with club and country; and class and fair play. Yamal’s overall tally across all three criteria makes him a genuine favorite, but the two-week window before the September 28 deadline still offers opportunity to consolidate—or relinquish—pole position.
