With the debate surrounding the next Ballon d’Or winner intensifying, Lamine Yamal has made another statement that adds a new dimension to the race. The Barcelona star did not simply discuss his chances of winning the award, but also made his view clear on which two players deserve to be considered the best in the world.
Yamal placed himself alongside Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid star, at the top, insisting that his view is not based solely on what happened at the World Cup or on the number of trophies each player won. Even more notably, the Barcelona youngster said his opinion would remain the same even if the world champion had been different.
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During an interview with Movistar, Yamal said that even if England had won the World Cup, he would still consider himself and Mbappe the two best players in the world. He also explained that, in his view, the Ballon d’Or is not simply about who wins trophies, but about who is the best player.
Yamal’s comments come as the 2026 Ballon d’Or race continues to attract growing attention, with both he and Mbappe included among the final 30 nominees, alongside Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and several other major stars.
Yamal enters the race after an outstanding season with Barcelona and Spain. He helped Barcelona win La Liga before playing a prominent role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in North America.
Mbappe, meanwhile, produced an impressive individual campaign with Real Madrid and France. He finished the World Cup as the tournament’s top scorer and continued to produce outstanding numbers for both club and country.
Yamal had spoken more cautiously about his Ballon d’Or chances only days earlier, but he still insisted that he believed he deserved the award because of the trophies and achievements he collected during the season.
What stands out about his latest comments is that Yamal has not simply positioned himself in direct competition with Mbappe for the Ballon d’Or. He has also described the Real Madrid forward as one of the two best players in the world, highlighting the scale of the rivalry between the Barcelona and Real Madrid stars.
Yamal’s comments also reopen the debate over what the Ballon d’Or should ultimately recognise, particularly after he stressed that the award should go to the best player rather than necessarily to the footballer who has won the most trophies or scored the most goals.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, with several major names competing for the award. However, Yamal’s latest comments have added another chapter to his personal battle with Mbappe ahead of the final decision.
As the two stars prepare to continue their rivalry on the pitch, the Ballon d’Or race has given them another battle away from the game as well, with Yamal placing himself and Mbappe firmly at the very top of world football.
