Renowned football agent Jorge Mendes has backed Lamine Yamal to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that the Barcelona star is currently the best player in the world. His comments come as the race for the prestigious individual award continues to intensify ahead of the ceremony.
Mendes, who represents Yamal, made the statement after meeting Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Speaking to reporters, Mendes said: “The Ballon d’Or is for Lamine Yamal, without a doubt,” while stressing that Yamal’s performances put him ahead of the other contenders. The comments were also reported by Goal after being relayed through a report highlighted by Fabrizio Romano.
Yamal himself has shown confidence in his chances after enjoying an outstanding 2025/26 season with Barcelona. The winger scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, while Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
Mendes’ comments add further weight to the ongoing Ballon d’Or debate, although Yamal faces competition from other major stars, including Kylian Mbappé and several Paris Saint-Germain players. For now, Yamal remains one of the leading names in the race for the 2026 award.
