Mbappe praises Yamal and says he will let his performances make the Ballon d'Or case
Kylian Mbappe, speaking to AS on September 18, 2026, praised Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal after the latter backed himself to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or and said he would let his play make his case for the award.
Yamal had publicly backed himself to win the 2026 prize and named Mbappe as his main rival; in response Mbappe said: “I think he is a very talented player and I have the feeling that he is going to have a great career. I wish him all the best,” and added: “My opinion is that this is a good year to win it. My best lawyer is my feet. No matter how much I talk.” He also said he wants the award to return to Real Madrid and the Bernabeu.
Mbappe’s individual numbers from the assessment period provide a strong platform: he scored 42 goals and provided seven assists for Real Madrid in 2025-26, including 25 goals in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League, then scored 10 times at the 2026 World Cup to win the Golden Boot. His main shortcoming, as noted in coverage, is the absence of a major team trophy—Real Madrid did not win a major trophy last season and France were eliminated by Spain in the World Cup semi-finals.
Lamine Yamal’s case rests on team and individual success: he helped Barcelona retain La Liga and Spain win the World Cup, finished the club season with 24 goals and 17 assists for 41 goal involvements, and led La Liga players for assists and chances created across all competitions.
The Ballon d'Or process for 2026 has moved into its final stage: the official assessment period ran from August 3, 2025 to July 19, 2026, covering the entire 2025-26 season and the World Cup, individual performance is the first criterion, followed by team achievements and fair play, and the 30-man shortlist has been confirmed with voting underway.
The race extends beyond Mbappe and Yamal, with nominees including Harry Kane, defending champion Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Achraf Hakimi, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi; Kane recorded 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions in 2025-26, and Dembele returns as the defending Ballon d'Or winner after his 2025 triumph.
With voting based on performances already completed, neither Mbappe nor Yamal can alter their 2026 cases now. The winner will be announced in London on October 26.
