Former Villarreal and Spain midfielder, Marcos Senna, has tipped Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal to claim the 2026 Ballon d’Or, hailing him as the most outstanding young talent in world football today.

Speaking to Sport, Senna said Yamal’s current trajectory puts him far ahead of his peers and makes him a clear favourite for the game’s most prestigious individual prize.

“There is no doubt that if Lamine continues on this path, he will be the next Ballon d’Or winner,” Senna stated.
“He is a player who is totally different from the rest. Lamine is going to win many more Ballon d’Or awards.”

The 18-year-old winger has enjoyed a meteoric rise since breaking into Barcelona’s first team and has already become a key figure for La Roja at the international level.

In the just-concluded 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, held in Paris, Yamal finished second behind PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé, who lifted the golden ball for the first time in his career. Dembélé’s teammate Vitinha completed the top three.

Senna admitted that Dembélé was a worthy winner this year but insisted that even if Yamal had claimed the award, it “would not have been a robbery.”

With his dazzling dribbles, composure in front of goal, and maturity beyond his years, Yamal is increasingly being tipped as the natural heir to Lionel Messi’s legacy at Barcelona—and possibly world football’s next dominant superstar.