Lamine Yamal finished third in the 2026 Ballon d'Or voting behind Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. The 19-year-old Barcelona winger, a World Cup winner with Spain, expressed excitement despite missing the top prize, stating "good things take time." Yamal enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 season with 25 goals and 20 assists, helping Barcelona defend their La Liga title and win the Spanish Supercopa. He was a key contributor for Spain at the 2026 World Cup, where La Roja secured their second championship.
Despite the individual setback, Yamal remains focused on team success, helping Barcelona win their first eight La Liga games this season with eight goals and six assists. His coach Luis de la Fuente, who won Coach of the Year, believes Yamal will claim many more individual and team trophies. Yamal previously won the Kopa Trophy and three La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Barcelona sits atop the table after a stellar start, with Yamal already tallying eight goals and six assists.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing