Ballon d’Or 2026: Raphinha advocates for Lamine Yamal

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or continues to generate reactions at FC Barcelona. While Lamine Yamal is among the 30 nominees for the prestigious award, his teammate Raphinha was not included in the final list. At 19 years old, the Spanish winger is nonetheless emerging as one of the contenders for the trophy after a season marked by several successes with both Barça and the Spanish national team. For Raphinha, the performances of his young partner strongly support his case. “Lamine Yamal should win the Ballon d’Or hands down”, said the Brazilian international.

Raphinha particularly highlighted the statistics and achievements of the young Barcelona player to justify his choice. “He has the statistics, he has won trophies with his club, and he has won the World Cup,” he added. The Brazilian also emphasized the excitement generated by Yamal, who has become one of the major attractions in world football. “People are willing to pay any price to see him play, and so am I,” Raphinha concluded. The verdict will be announced during the Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for October 26 in London.