Spain and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal was voted best young talent for a third straight year at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, but the 19-year-old clearly has his sights set on the top prize, which went to Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane.
Yamal finished third in the voting, behind Kane and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, who finished second.
The World Cup winner took to social media on Tuesday night to reassure fans that missing out on soccer’s leading individual award would not dampen his spirits.
“IT WILL COME, good things take time, I trust in the path I’m building,” Yamal wrote. “No rush, just excitement and the calm assurance that one day my time will come.”
“Congratulations to the winners. My focus is back on what matters most: making FC Barcelona win again.”
A strong season for club and country
Yamal was among the leading contenders for the award after a strong 2025-26 campaign. He recorded 25 goals and 20 assists in 57 appearances, helping Barcelona defend their LaLiga title and win the Spanish Supercopa.
He was also a key contributor to the Spain side that won the 2026 World Cup. He scored only one goal at the tournament, having returned during the summer from an injury he suffered late in the club season. He started seven of Spain’s eight games and was a constant threat down the right wing, regularly attracting double teams as La Roja won their second World Cup in North America.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who won the Ballon d’Or for men’s coach of the year, praised his winger after the ceremony on Monday.
“Lamine Yamal is going to win many Ballon d’Or awards, many individual trophies, but more importantly, he is going to win many more team trophies. I know he values that more.”
Accolades and early form
Yamal, a 2024 European Champion, has already won three LaLiga titles with Barça. He also claimed the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player in the world under the age of 21, ahead of his Spain and Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí.
Barcelona sit top of LaLiga after a stellar start to the season, winning their first eight games. Yamal has contributed eight goals and six assists along the way.