Rabat – Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains convinced that Lamine Yamal will eventually win the Ballon d’Or despite finishing third in the 2026 rankings.
Laporta tips Yamal’s performances and believes the winger will claim the Ballon d’Or in the future. “I am convinced that he will end up winning the Ballon d’Or. I don’t know when, but he has deserved it,” Laporta said.
Laporta insisted that the voting result should be interpreted positively and serve as an incentive for the striker and his teammates. “In my opinion, he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or, but the voters decided this way,” he explained. “It was a sporting decision…let this serve as motivation for him personally, because I’m sure it will. All his teammates will help him get over this disappointment quickly.”
The 19-year-old finished behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who claimed the award, and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé. Yamal had placed second in the 2025 rankings.
Despite missing out on the main prize, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year after 2024 and 2025, making him the unarguably best young player in world football for the past few years.
Laporta’s comments show Barcelona’s confidence in the winger, who has become a central figure in the club’s sporting project. Yamal’s performances also have established him among the leading players of his whole generation, although the Ballon d’Or remains an outstanding ambition.
Barcelona’s hopes extend beyond individual awards, with the club seeking to recover from its recent 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clásico. Laporta has maintained his confidence in the squad as it continues its campaigns to La Liga and Champions League. “We’ll accept it with good sportsmanship and let it motivate us to move forward,” he concluded. “Our expectations for this season remain unchanged.”
