Yamal Fears His Age Could Hurt His 2026 Ballon d’Or Chances

Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal believes his age could count against him in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The 19-year-old said some voters may assume he has many more opportunities to win the award, making them more likely to favour established contenders such as Kylian Mbappé, Rodri, Harry Kane and others. Yamal said young players can be made to wait for recognition because people expect them to remain at the top for years. He added that Mbappé faced similar expectations earlier in his career and is still yet to win the award. The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner is scheduled to be announced on October 26 at the London Palladium.

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