ไทย
English
中國人
While Thierry Henry didn't even place him in his top two, Zlatan Ibrahimović has declared Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as his pick for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
The 19-year-old sensation is among the leading contenders for what is widely regarded as football's most prestigious individual honor, having delivered standout performances for both Barcelona and Spain throughout last season.
Yamal netted 25 goals and contributed 20 assists across 57 appearances for club and country in 2025–26, claiming both the La Liga title and the World Cup. He was also honored with the La Liga Player of the Year award.
The young star, who finished runner-up in last year's ballot, has been making his case ahead of the vote through a string of interviews last month. "There have been great players in football, like Leo [Messi], Cristiano [Ronaldo], Diego [Maradona]... but nobody had achieved so much at such a young age," he stated. "There was Pelé, but nothing like that in recent times."
One person clearly won over by Yamal is legendary ex-striker Ibrahimović, who named the teenage talent as his personal choice. When asked a series of rapid-fire questions by ESPN at the FC 27 launch event in New York, the former Barcelona forward answered "Yamal" when prompted for his Ballon d'Or selection.
Henry, on the other hand, sided with Yamal's Real Madrid rival. "It's Kylian Mbappé," Ibrahimović's fellow Fox Sports analyst stated earlier this month. "And yes, people will say he didn't win anything. I think it has happened before in history. I think some people need to do their research on that one.
"But for me, it's Kylian. When you look at what he accomplished individually... Top scorer in the Champions League, top scorer in La Liga and also at the World Cup. Michael Olise matches that in terms of assists."
"I just wanted to point out that there are plenty of candidates and they're not lightweight contenders, to be fair," Henry added. "But I will personally go with [Mbappé]. Michael Olise, a close second."
Who Are the Favorites for the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Zlatan's picks for some of the biggest awards and league winners in Europe are spicy 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/PC75L9skMQ
Yamal is currently listed as the second favorite for the award by most bookmakers, trailing only Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane.
Kane claimed both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2025–26 and delivered a remarkable 73 goals across 65 appearances for club and country.
With that tally, the England skipper became the first player since Lionel Messi in 2011–12 to eclipse the 70-goal mark within a single season.
Next on most favorites lists is Real Madrid and France forward Mbappé, who became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history this summer, followed by the likes of Rodri (Barcelona/Spain), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain/Georgia) and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina).
Should 19-year-old Yamal claim the award, he would become the youngest Ballon d'Or recipient in history—eclipsing the previous record holder, Ronaldo Nazario, who won the prize in 1997 at the age of 21.
When Is the Ceremony?
The Ballon d'Or ceremony, organized by France Football magazine, has been held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris since 2019, but a venue change has been confirmed for the 2026 edition.
For the very first time, the iconic London Palladium in the U.K. will host the event on Oct. 26, a decision made to pay tribute to inaugural Ballon d'Or winner Stanley Matthews—one of only four Englishmen to have claimed the prize—marking 70 years since the inaugural award was presented.