Lamine Yamal Explains Why Kylian Mbappé Could Win the Ballon d’Or

Lamine Yamal has a theory about the Ballon d’Or race that directly involves Kylian Mbappé. The Spaniard believes one factor could influence how voters perceive the contenders.

Lamine Yamal identifies a factor that could hurt his Ballon d’Or bid

The 2026 Ballon d’Or race already features several names in the conversation, and Lamine Yamal is among the contenders. The Barcelona winger, however, believes there is one factor that could influence how voters assess his candidacy.

At just 19 years old, Yamal has already established himself among the biggest stars in world football. According to an interview with The Guardian, that could also be his problem, as some voters may believe he still has many years ahead of him to win the award.

The Spaniard believes that perception could ultimately give more weight to players who are also enjoying outstanding periods, including Kylian Mbappé, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lionel Messi and Harry Kane.

Kylian Mbappé features in Lamine Yamal’s theory

To explain his point, Lamine Yamal used Kylian Mbappé as an example. The French forward also broke into the elite at a very young age and, after winning the 2018 World Cup at 19, became one of the leading contenders for major individual awards.

However, Mbappé has still not won the Ballon d’Or. Yamal believes that example shows how the idea that a young star “will have his chance” at another point in his career can work against them.

“They think Lamine will always be there and that he will eventually win it,” the footballer explained. His reflection suggests that elite performances in the present could lose some weight when voters believe the player will have more opportunities in the future.

Lamine does not want to wait to be recognized

The Barcelona player also rejects the idea that he is simply a prospect. Yamal insists he has been performing at a Ballon d’Or level for some time and believes those who closely follow football can recognize the difference he makes on the pitch.

His development has also been backed by his role with the Spanish national team, where Luis de la Fuente has highlighted his growth and maturity. Yamal believes the discussion should not be reduced to his age, but rather to what he is delivering on the field right now.

“I don’t want to wait 10 years”

Lamine Yamal believes a footballer has to make the most of the moment when they are at the top, especially after winning major trophies. That is because no one knows what their career will look like a decade from now.

With Kylian Mbappé as his example, the Spaniard made it clear that he does not want to rely on future opportunities to win the Ballon d’Or. He would rather have his current performances be enough to keep him firmly in the conversation.