Barcelona’s Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha (R) celebrates with teammate Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal after scoring his team’s second goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on September 19, 2026. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP via Getty Images)
Gill Clark Gill Clark is the site manager of Barca Blaugranes and joined in 2017. She has worked in sports media as a writer and editor for the best part of two decades and has been in love with the beautiful game for as long as she can remember.
Barcelona captain Raphinha says that Lamine Yamal deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or and has explained why he thinks the teenager is the best player on the planet.
Asked if Yamal should pick up the Golden Ball next month he told Guardian Sport “without a doubt, yes” and then went on to reveal just why the Barcelona forward is the world’s No. 1 footballer.
“Well, above all. I believe that winning the Ballon d’Or is about individual statistics, team honors and the magic he has on the pitch. Charisma and everything like this. For me, these are the most important points to win the award,” he said.
“And I think Lamine has them all. Lamine has spectacular numbers, not only last season but other seasons as well. And this season has also started spectacularly. From three titles last season, he has won two with Barcelona and the World Cup with his national team.
“And for me, he is one of the most important players for Barcelona and one of the most important players for the Spanish national team. So for me, there’s no doubt. For me, Lamine has to take the prize no matter what.
“And what others say, everyone has to look out for their own. But for me it’s very clear, even if I wasn’t a team-mate of Lamine’s.
“The things that he’s done on the pitch, the numbers he has, the titles he has. I think that titles are quite important. In my opinion he has to win.”
Yamal has also said he thinks he deserves to win the award this year, while there’s been plenty of eyebrows raised about the fact that Raphinha was not among the final nominees for the prize.