Many people expect Lamine Yamal to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, but the Barcelona star is already building a case to win the award 12 months later. He has started the season with spectacular numbers.
Barcelona's away victory over Real Betis cannot be understood without considering Lamine Yamal's influence. The Barcelona superstar once again played a decisive role in a win that gave Hansi Flick's side their ninth consecutive LaLiga victory. Meanwhile, the club's number 10 is already making a strong case for next year's Ballon d'Or.
Yamal scored the opening goal and assisted Gabriel Jesus for the 3-1 goal. He delivered another great performance, full of excellent movement and dribbling. Lamine made it clear that he is one of the best players in the world this season. While waiting for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in London in the coming weeks, Lamine is already building a compelling case for the award 12 months from now.
Lamine Yamal became the first player in Europe's top five leagues to reach 10 assists across all competitions this season. He also leads all players in those leagues in goal contributions, with nine goals and 10 assists to his name.
We are talking about a player who is still under 20 years old and has already won the FIFA World Cup, the European Championship, LaLiga, the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. With fewer than four full seasons of senior football under his belt, Lamine is already one of the most decorated young talents in European football. Only the Ballon d'Or and the Champions League remain out of reach for a player who looks destined to change the game as we know it.
It is worth remembering that Yamal is one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded in London in the coming weeks. This follows a previous season in which he was crowned as FIFA World Cup champion and won two domestic competitions in Spain. Looking ahead to 2027, Lamine is shaping up to be one of the leading candidates for the award.
With Raphinha missing from Barcelona's starting lineup in their last three matches, Yamal has stepped up and taken on greater responsibility. Two of the biggest challenges of the season now lie ahead for him and his team. Barcelona will travel to the Parc des Princes to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League before hosting Real Madrid at Camp Nou. Hansi Flick's side are flying, spearheaded by a young star who, despite being under 20, is already dreaming of winning the Ballon d'Or.
