Barcelona have chosen to back Lamine Yamal in the 2026 Ballon d’Or race, with midfielder Rodri confirming that the club believes the 19-year-old is the player most deserving of the prestigious individual award.
Rodri, who joined Barcelona this summer after seven successful years at Manchester City, revealed the club’s position while discussing this year’s Ballon d’Or contest with Mundo Deportivo.
“Ballon d’Or? The club has chosen to back Lamine. They say he’s the player most deserving of the award, and that’s completely legitimate.”
Rodri, Barcelona midfielder
The Spain midfielder added his own hope for the outcome of the race, preferring his countryman to win the award. “I hope that a Spanish player wins.”
Rodri’s comments carry particular weight given his own history with the award. He won the 2024 Ballon d’Or while at Manchester City after playing a central role in their Premier League success and Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and establishing himself as one of the world’s outstanding midfielders.
His endorsement of Yamal comes after the teenager narrowly missed out on the prize last year. Yamal finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting behind Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé, who claimed the award after an outstanding campaign with the French club.
Yamal’s case for the 2026 award has since been strengthened by another exceptional season.
The Barcelona forward helped his club win LaLiga and was subsequently part of the Spain team that lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Yamal’s World Cup Success Strengthens His Case
The World Cup triumph gives Yamal a major advantage in a Ballon d’Or race that includes several of the world’s biggest stars.
Yamal is among the 30 nominees for the 2026 men’s award, alongside the likes of Rodri, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and reigning winner Dembélé.
His closest competition is expected to come from Mbappé and Kane, although their cases are built on different foundations.
Mbappé enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign and emerged as one of the leading scorers across Europe’s major competitions, while Kane produced remarkable numbers for Bayern Munich and England.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich and also scored six times for England at the World Cup, making him one of the strongest statistical candidates for the award.
Yamal, however, can point to the combination of individual influence and major team honours.
He won LaLiga with Barcelona before helping Spain become world champions, while also earning recognition as one of the leading players in Spanish football after being named La Liga player of the season.
That combination has pushed him into serious contention after finishing behind Dembélé last year. It also explains why Barcelona have decided to rally behind their teenage star rather than leaving the club’s support divided among its nominees.
Rodri Backs Yamal’s Ballon d’Or Ambition
Barcelona’s decision is particularly significant because Rodri himself is among the nominees.
The midfielder could therefore have been viewed as a potential rival to Yamal, yet he has openly endorsed his teammate’s candidacy.
Rodri’s comments also underline the strength of the Spanish challenge this year. Spain’s World Cup victory has placed several of its players in the conversation, but Barcelona’s preference is clear with Lamine Yamal the man they believe should succeed Ousmane Dembélé.
The teenager is attempting to go one step further than last year, when he became the runner-up.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26, where Yamal will discover whether his World Cup-winning campaign has finally taken him to the top of the individual rankings.
For now, Rodri has made Barcelona’s position unmistakable. The club has chosen Yamal, and its latest Ballon d’Or winner believes that decision is entirely justified.
READ ALSO: One Package Deal Would Force My Exit From Constitutional Review Committee, Barker-Vormawor Says
