João Cancelo has made his position clear — as far as the Barcelona defender is concerned, there is only one name that belongs on the 2026 Ballon d'Or trophy: Lamine Yamal.
The race for this year's award has been notably open, with no single candidate dominating the conversation ahead of the final 30-man shortlist. Yamal has, however, built considerable momentum, drawing endorsements from Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, sporting director Deco, and former Netherlands international Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Cancelo has now delivered the most emphatic backing yet, arguing the 19-year-old winger's achievements across the 2025/26 season leave no room for debate.
An extraordinary campaign
Yamal's numbers for Barcelona across the season were remarkable: 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances — more than 40 direct goal contributions in a single campaign. Those figures helped Barcelona claim La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
His influence extended well beyond club football. Yamal was a central figure in Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph, adding the sport's most coveted international prize to his already crowded trophy cabinet. At just 19, the scale of what he has won has become one of the defining arguments in his favour.
This marks Yamal's third Ballon d'Or nomination. He finished second in last year's voting, behind Ousmane Dembele. Cancelo is certain the outcome should be different this time.
