Lamine Yamal Ballon d’Or Snub Leaves Mbappe Speechless

Key Stats and Takeaways

• Yamal finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or with 1,059 votes, behind Dembele’s 1,380.
• Yamal posted 24 goals and 18 assists last season for Barcelona.
• Mbappe won the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals.
• Mbappe now holds 22 World Cup goals, the most in tournament history.
• The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony happens in London on October 26.

So, Mbappe fired the first shot. Then Yamal fired back. And honestly, this Lamine Yamal Ballon d’Or drama might be the best subplot of the season.

On Monday, Mbappe told reporters he thinks he deserves the trophy. Fair enough. He just won the World Cup Golden Boot. He also became the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals. That’s a huge résumé, and he knows it.

But then Yamal stepped up to the mic. And he didn’t hold back.

What Lamine Yamal Actually Said About the Ballon d’Or

“I don’t think I need to campaign for it,” Yamal told reporters on Tuesday. He added that he isn’t thinking about what he deserves. Instead, he said everyone can think what they like. That’s a mature answer for a 19-year-old.

He went further, too. “I won’t be begging to win anything,” Yamal said. According to him, the award isn’t up to him. It’s up to the voters. Meanwhile, his season speaks for itself anyway.

Think about it. Yamal helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup. He also helped Barcelona capture La Liga and the Spanish Supercopa. That’s a trophy haul most players only dream about.

Why the Lamine Yamal Ballon d’Or Debate Matters This Year

Here’s the thing. Yamal already finished runner-up last year. Dembele beat him by just 321 votes. So naturally, expectations are sky-high for 2026.

Plus, Dembele recently picked his own top three for this year’s award. He chose Mbappe, Kvaratskhelia, and Kane. Yamal wasn’t on that list. When asked about it, Yamal simply laughed it off. “He’s Kylian’s friend, right?” he joked, referencing Dembele and Mbappe’s friendship.

Still, Yamal insists he’s unbothered. And given his numbers, he probably has every right to be.

The Bigger Picture

Ultimately, this isn’t really a feud. It’s two elite players handling pressure differently. Mbappe is stating his case publicly. Yamal, however, is letting his football do the talking.

Either way, October 26 can’t come soon enough.