Lamine Yamal's Uncle Claims Harry Kane Was Handed the Ballon d'Or
Lamine Yamal's uncle lashed out after Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or. He insisted his nephew deserved the award and questioned the voters' decision despite the Bayern Munich striker's historic season.
Harry Kane's victory at the 2026 Ballon d'Or did not sit well with Lamine Yamal's family, especially after the young Spanish star finished third in the voting behind the English striker and Kylian Mbappé.
One of the first to express his frustration was Abdul, the Barcelona player's uncle, who publicly questioned the result during an interview with Cadena SER's El Larguero radio program.
The young Spaniard's relative insisted that his nephew had proven himself to be the best player in the world and that his performances deserved greater recognition.
"My nephew was incredible. He was the best player in the world. Everybody knows that," he said.
His comments reflected the disappointment of a family that had hoped to see Yamal win his first Ballon d'Or at just 19 years old.
Why Does Lamine Yamal's Uncle Believe Harry Kane Did Not Deserve to Win?
During the interview, Abdul drew a distinction between Harry Kane's goalscoring ability and the overall impact that Lamine Yamal brings to the field.
In his view, the Bayern Munich striker stands out primarily for his goals, while his nephew offers creativity, assists, and entertainment.
He also suggested that the players' ages may have influenced the voters' decision.
"Lamine is very young. He's 19 and will win more, but Harry only has a few days of soccer left, so we handed him the Ballon d'Or," he claimed.
The forward's uncle also highlighted the trophies Yamal won with Barcelona and the Spain national team, including LaLiga, the Spanish Super Cup, and the 2026 World Cup.
Harry Kane Wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or After a Historic Season
Despite the criticism, Kane entered the ceremony with a strong case for winning the award.
The English striker recorded 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and the England national team combined.
He also won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, while his national team finished third at the 2026 World Cup.
His performances made him the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
Meanwhile, Yamal finished third and received his third Kopa Trophy as the best young player.
Lamine Yamal Could Have More Opportunities to Win the Ballon d'Or
Although the result sparked frustration among his family, Abdul believes the Barcelona forward still has a career full of possibilities ahead of him.
He even predicted that his nephew could win five Ballon d'Or awards in the future.
At just 19 years old, Lamine Yamal continues to establish himself among the biggest stars in international soccer, while Harry Kane celebrates the most prestigious individual achievement of his career.
Key Takeaways
- Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
- Kylian Mbappé finished second, while Lamine Yamal placed third.
- Abdul, Yamal's uncle, questioned the result during an interview with El Larguero.
- He claimed the award had been handed to Kane.
- Lamine Yamal won his third Kopa Trophy.
- His uncle predicted that he would win five Ballon d'Or awards during his career.
