"This year I deserve Ballon d'Or", Lamine Yamal claims

• The 19-year-old helped Barcelona retain La Liga before winning the World Cup with Spain.
• Yamal faces competition from Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Harry Kane ahead of the October 26 ceremony.

FC Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has declared that he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, naming himself and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé as the two top footballers in the world following a dominant campaign for both club and country.

In an interview broadcast on Movistar Plus, excerpts of which were released on Sunday, the 19-year-old expressed confidence in his individual campaign after capturing major titles with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

"For me, Mbappé and me, we’re the two best players in the world," Yamal stated. "I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won."

The bold statements follow a measured press conference last Tuesday, where Yamal noted he had a chance after an "incredible" season but added he would not beg for votes.

Yamal strengthened his candidate profile after helping Barcelona retain the La Liga title before winning the World Cup with Spain over the summer.

Mbappé, Dembélé, and Kane compete with Yamal

Yamal’s statements comes as other top candidates build their respective cases for football’s most prestigious individual honour.

Kylian Mbappé has also touted his credentials in recent days after finishing as the leading goalscorer in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the World Cup, despite Real Madrid failing to secure a major trophy.

Meanwhile, Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain teammate Ousmane Dembélé—the current holder of the award—argued that the honor should remain with a Paris Saint-Germain player after the French club successfully retained its Champions League title.

Bayern Munich striker and England international Harry Kane also remains among the frontrunners for the award.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be officially announced during the awards ceremony in London on October 26.