Former Barcelona youth forward has no doubt about Ballon d’Or choice: ‘Lamine should win it’

Former Barcelona youth forward has no doubt about Ballon d’Or choice: ‘Lamine should win it’ Lamine Yamal has done his Ballon d’Or 2026 case no harm with his performances since the start of the season. Even though the voting consideration period for the award ends in July, his recent performances will surely have made voters rethink in favour of the Barcelona star. He has received another significant endorsement in the Ballon d’Or debate, with former Barcelona forward Keita Balde making his preferred winner perfectly clear. Keita backs Lamine for the Ballon d’Or Speaking on El Chiringuito , Keita backed the Barcelona teenager without hesitation as discussion intensifies around football’s biggest individual prize. “Lamine should win the Ballon d’Or,” Keita said. Keita was crystal clear in his short statement, highlighting how quickly Lamine has established himself among the players being discussed at the very highest level. Lamine Yamal is a favourite to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) For Barcelona, the remarkable part is that these conversations no longer revolve around his age or the fact that he is a teenager. Lamine has developed from an extraordinary academy talent into one of the players expected to decide the club’s biggest matches. The football world has placed immense weight on the young shoulders of Lamine to be the flag-bearer in the coming decade. More than Barcelona’s teenage sensation The Ballon d’Or debate will inevitably involve performances, trophies and different interpretations of what should matter most when selecting the winner. However, Lamine’s case is about more than his potential . His importance to Barcelona is already enormous. He gives Hansi Flick a player capable of creating advantages from almost nothing, particularly when opponents sit deep and Barça need somebody to break the structure through individual quality. Football can no longer view Lamine through the lens of a youngster. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Whether that ultimately results in the Ballon d’Or is another matter, especially with candidates like Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the reckoning. Even if the award does not come his way this year, there is no doubt that he is clearly on the right track to win it in the coming seasons. Barcelona supporters have spent years hearing about what the La Masia graduate might eventually become. Lamine has already become that. At 19, Lamine is no longer being discussed merely as the future of Barcelona and Spain. He is already there, competing for the biggest trophies, and it remains to be seen whether the Ballon d’Or comes his way this season.