Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has said he has no intention of campaigning for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that the decision should ultimately be left to the journalists who vote for the prestigious individual award.
The young Spanish winger said he would not beg or lobby for the prize and instead preferred to allow his performances to speak for themselves.
“I’m not gonna campaign for anything. I won’t be begging to win anything,” Yamal said while discussing the award.
He added that the Ballon d’Or was ultimately “up to you [journalists], not me.”
Yamal enters the race after another impressive period with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
The teenager said he was proud of the year he had enjoyed with both club and country and appeared more focused on collective achievements than individual recognition.
“I’m proud” of what the team achieved, he said, reflecting on Barcelona’s campaign and his performances for Spain.
Yamal has emerged as one of the most prominent young players in world football and is again among the names attracting attention ahead of the Ballon d’Or decision.
Reports on his latest comments said the winger intends to let voters make their own assessment rather than publicly campaign for the award.
The Ballon d’Or remains one of football’s most prestigious individual honours, with players judged on their performances over the relevant period.
For Yamal, however, the message is clear: he intends to leave the final decision in the hands of those casting the votes.