Lamine Yamal: I Won’t Beg Anyone For The Ballon d’Or

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has ruled out campaigning for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that he will leave the decision entirely to those responsible for voting for the prestigious individual award.

According to Ireporter Online, the 19-year-old is among the leading contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or following an impressive campaign with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

Yamal played a key role as Spain won the World Cup and Barcelona retained the La Liga title, further strengthening his credentials after finishing second in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting behind Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé.

Despite being considered one of the favourites for the award, the Barcelona youngster said he has no intention of lobbying or trying to convince anyone that he deserves to win.

“I don’t think I need to campaign for it. I’m not thinking about what I deserve; everyone can think what they like,” Yamal said.

The Spanish international expressed satisfaction with his achievements over the past year, saying his success with both club and country had already given him plenty to be proud of.

“I’m proud of everything I’ve done this year with my club and with the national team. We’ve become world champions and won the league again. I can’t ask for anything more,” he added.

Yamal maintained that his performances should speak for themselves, stressing that he would not plead for recognition.

“I think I’ve shown an incredible level. It’s the media’s job, and I will not beg for anything,” he said.

The Barcelona star faces competition from several high-profile players, including Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, Dembélé, Harry Kane and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Yamal, however, appeared unconcerned about the competition and said he was satisfied with the season he had enjoyed.

The teenager has also returned to impressive form after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in April, scoring in his last two appearances against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia.

According to the Barcelona winger, he is currently enjoying one of the happiest periods of his life following Spain’s World Cup triumph and his recent success at club level.

Yamal has now shifted his attention to Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League campaign, with the Spanish giants set to begin their quest for European glory against Feyenoord on Wednesday.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed confidence in the team’s ability to challenge for the Champions League title, although he admitted that the competition would present a difficult journey.

Flick also praised Yamal’s exceptional ability, describing him as a player capable of deciding matches on his own.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.