YAMAL SHRUGS OFF DEMBéLé’S BALLON D’OR OMISSION

Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal has played down Ousmane Dembélé’s decision to leave him out of his top three choices for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The reigning winner, Dembélé, named Kylian Mbappé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Harry Kane among his preferred candidates, leaving Yamal outside his selection despite the teenager being widely regarded as one of the leading contenders for this year’s award.

Asked about Dembélé’s selection during a press conference ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League campaign, Yamal responded with a light-hearted remark about the Frenchman’s friendship with Mbappé. The 19-year-old said the omission did not bother him, stressing that he has a good relationship with Dembélé and understands that the PSG forward is entitled to choose whichever players he believes deserve the honour.

Yamal also insisted that he would not campaign publicly for the prestigious individual award. According to the Barcelona star, his performances for both club and country should speak for themselves, adding that he was proud of what he achieved during the season. He believes he has a strong chance of winning, but maintained that the final decision rests with the voters.

The teenager enters the Ballon d’Or race after another outstanding campaign. He helped Barcelona secure major domestic honours and played a key role for Spain, strengthening his credentials among the world's leading players. His performances have placed him alongside established stars such as Kane, Mbappé, Haaland and Lionel Messi on the 30-man shortlist announced by France Football.

Despite missing out on Dembélé’s personal top three, Yamal appears determined to remain focused on his football rather than the growing Ballon d’Or debate. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, with the Barcelona youngster hoping his performances throughout the season will be enough to convince voters that he deserves to succeed Dembélé as the world's best player.