BARCELONA — With less than two weeks to go before football's biggest individual prize is handed out, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has left no doubt about who he thinks should win it.

"He's my player. He's a player from Barça and I think he also deserves to win the Ballon d'Or," Flick said of Lamine Yamal. "He is an outstanding player. You can see it in every game. He's special."

The German coach is not alone. Barcelona president Joan Laporta and defender Pau Cubarsí have also publicly backed the 19-year-old Spain winger, as the Catalan club rallies behind its biggest star ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on October 26.

If Yamal wins, he would become the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in history.

Yamal's case

Yamal's argument rests on trophies and influence. During the 2025–26 season, he recorded 24 goals and 17 assists as Barcelona retained the LaLiga title and won the Spanish Super Cup. He then crowned the year by winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain.

Flick has pointed to exactly that record: two titles with Barcelona and a World Cup with Spain. He has also praised the teenager's improved fitness and his ability to take on defenders one against one, or even against two or three.

Yamal himself has not been shy. In an interview with Movistar Plus last month, he said he and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé were the two best players in the world, but that he deserved the award. He has also argued that the Ballon d'Or should go to the best player, not simply the one who scores the most goals.

The rivals

Yamal is one of 30 nominees on the shortlist released by France Football on September 8, and the competition is fierce:

  • Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France): finished as top scorer in LaLiga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup, and says he deserves the award himself
  • Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England): coming off a remarkable 73-goal season
  • Ousmane Dembélé (PSG, France): the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner
  • Other nominees include Lionel Messi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabián Ruiz

That is the heart of the debate: Yamal has the trophies, while his main rivals scored far more goals during the judging period.

How the winner is chosen

The Ballon d'Or is decided by a panel of journalists. Voters weigh three main criteria: individual performances, team performances and titles won, and the player's class and fair play.

Ego concerns dismissed

Yamal's open campaign for the award has raised questions about whether it could become a distraction. Flick has brushed those concerns aside, describing his player as honest and self-confident, and saying he hopes the debate will not affect the team. This from a coach who once warned his squad that "egos kill success."

Barcelona did, however, feel two players were left out. Flick said Raphinha and Pedri also deserved a place on the shortlist.

When will we know?

The 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced at a gala at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26.

Will the voters reward Yamal's trophies and brilliance, or the goals of Mbappé or Kane? Ghanaian football fans will find out in under two weeks.

Who do you think deserves the 2026 Ballon d'Or? Tell us in the comments and on our Facebook page.