France Football can rub your hands. For a week and the announcement of the 30 players named, the Ballon d’Or has almost never been so talked about. The absentees, including Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Raphinha, Pedri and Dani Olmo, caused a lot of talk. Some players also selected, like Vozinha, Sadio Mané and Julián Quiñones. But what mainly occupies the sports press are the declarations of the main candidates for the title. The first to draw is Kylian Mbappé (27 years old). Top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, the Frenchman believes he has a good chance of winning the game. This, even if he did not win any major titles. KM10 has therefore increased its media releases in recent days to defend its candidacy.
Lamine Yamal at the start: “I’m not going to beg”
He can count on Real Madrid. After boycotting the trophy following the failure of Vinicius Jr in 2024, the Spanish club supports Mbappé. José Mourinho does not hesitate to plead his cause to the press. His teammates are more discreet even if Ibrahima Konaté publicly assured him of his support. This contrasts with FC Barcelona, which stands united behind the candidate chosen by the club: Lamine Yamal. El Chiringuito assures that the Blaugranas will increase actions to support their player in the race for the BO during the coming days. A week ago, however, the Spanish genius refused to enter the campaign and sell himself to obtain votes.
“It’s not up to me, it’s up to you. My work with Barça and the national team has been incredible. I have options, I had an excellent year. But we’ll see. I don’t think I need to campaign. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and I can’t ask for anything more. It’s your job, I’m not going to beg for anything”. It was September 8th. A few days later, the 19-year-old footballer radically changed his communication strategy. “Kylian Mbappé and I are the best players in the world for me! It’s very clear to me, and everyone who watches the games knows it. Now I think I deserve the Ballon d’Or this year for what I won.admitted the 2026 world champion to Movistar+ on September 14.
A week later: “I think I deserve the Ballon d’Or”
Two weeks before the end of the votes (September 28), Lamine Yamal decided to opt for more offensive communication, eliminating in the process certain candidates among his teammates (Rodri in particular) or his opponents (Harry Kane, the PSG players). Unlike Mbappé, he can count on his entire club in his campaign for the BO, starting with that of his coach, Hans Dieter Flick. “Yes, he’s my player, Lamine Yamal is a Barça player and he deserves the Ballon d’Or. Lamine has exceptional quality, he is special, no one does what he does.” Arriving this summer, Gabriel Jesus is also behind him. “The Ballon d’Or for Lamine Yamal? Yes, absolutely. Considering his play and his season so far, I think Lamine has the potential to win the title. I have had the chance to train with great players, and Lamine is one of them. Everything he does seems easy.”
Rodri, who is a title contender and who was voted MVP of the last World Cup, is also with him. “The club has chosen to support Lamine. He believes that he is the player who most deserves this award, and that is completely legitimate. I hope a Spanish player wins the title”. On the management side, Deco also votes for Lamine Yamal. “I think he is the ideal candidate. I have no doubt about that, even if everyone will defend their position. He had an exceptional season with Barça and was able to participate in the World Cup after an injury. Last season he was a key part of La Liga victory. I like football. It’s like the time when Leo (Messi) dominated and won. In this specific case, there is no real debate. »
He is Barça’s chosen one
President Joan Laporta shares the same opinion as he admitted last week. “The players must also be grateful to Barça for the opportunity the club is giving them to win these trophies. I will always want a Barça player to be Ballon d’Or. Lamine Yamal? Yes, I would really like him to win the Ballon d’Or. I would be delighted if a Barça player, or a Barça player, won it. Lamine is a very mature guy, a genius.” Last night, he spoke again at the microphone of the COPE. “I would be delighted if Lamine won the Ballon d’Or, and I think he deserves it.” Jorge Mendes, the footballer’s agent, also defended his client. “The Ballon d’Or is for Lamine Yamal, he is the one who deserves it the most. He is by far the best in the world, and you all know it.”
However, some voices are raised and believe that he is not the favorite for this title. This is the case of Álvaro Benito, journalist for the Cadena SER. “If we talk about individual performances, Harry Kane’s year has undoubtedly been phenomenal. If we talk about titles, no one has won more than Fabián Ruiz.” More discreet than Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, who has the full support of Bayern Munich, and Fabian Ruiz, who cannot really count on PSG who have decided not to designate any player to support in the race for the BO, also have their chances. It remains to be seen which strategy will be best. For Lamine Yamal and Barça, who have aligned themselves with KM10’s communication, attack is the best defense.
