Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane highlights Lamine Yamal’s incredible rise: ‘When I was his age, I was on loan’

Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane highlights Lamine Yamal’s incredible rise: ‘When I was his age, I was on loan’ Harry Kane praised Lamine Yamal after the Barcelona forward finished third in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings , calling the teenager’s achievements at such a young age incredible.  The Bayern Munich striker, who won football’s most prestigious individual award, highlighted Yamal’s exceptional talent while reflecting on how their careers developed so differently at the same age. Yamal narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or, finishing behind Kane and Kylian Mbappe after another outstanding season for Barcelona.  However, the 19-year-old still left the ceremony with the 2026 Kopa Trophy , extending his remarkable record in the award for the world’s best young player. Harry Kane explains why Lamine Yamal’s talent stands out Kane was full of admiration for the Barcelona winger, whose rapid rise has established him among the leading players in world football despite his age. “Lamine Yamal is an incredible player. What he does at that age is truly incredible. “When I was his age, I was playing with different clubs on loan!” The England captain’s comparison showed the different paths they took towards the top of the game.  While Kane developed through loan spells before establishing himself among Europe’s elite strikers, Yamal has already become a central figure for Barcelona and Spain. Kane added: “ He has started his career in a great way, and what he does at that early age shows the extent of the talent and quality he possesses.” Lamine Yamal finishes third in 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings Yamal’s third-place finish continues his remarkable progression in the Ballon d’Or standings.  He finished 10th in 2024 before rising to second place in 2025, establishing himself as a regular contender for the sport’s biggest individual honour. Although Kane claimed the 2026 Ballon d’Or, Yamal secured the Kopa Trophy, also known as the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award.  The Barcelona star made history by winning the honour for the third consecutive year, further underlining his dominance among young footballers.