Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has said he will not campaign or lobby for this year’s Ballon d’Or, insisting the decision rests with voters rather than with him.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday ahead of Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Feyenoord, the teenager said fans and voters were entitled to their own opinions and that individual honors were beyond his control.
“I don’t think I need to campaign for the Ballon d’Or. Everyone is entitled to think whatever they want,” Yamal said. “I’m not here to campaign, and I’m not going to beg for anything. That’s your job. It’s not on me.”
Yamal said he took pride in his performances for both club and country over the past year, crediting any recognition he might receive to the collective efforts of his teammates.
“Winning the Ballon d’Or does not depend on me,” he said. “The work we’ve done with Barça and the national team has been unbelievable. I’ll be grateful to my teammates at Barça and with the national team if I win it, of course.”
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.