Lamine Yamal showed off his Sports of the Year award days after claiming that he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or award.
Taking to Instagram stories on Tuesday, September 15, the FC Barcelona star shared a video posted by Laureus Sports and LaLiga in which the 19-year-old is posing with his Laureus World Young Sportsperson of the Year.
The Spanish footballer was named as the sportsperson of the year in April, before the FIFA World Cup.
Sharing the video on social media, Laureus Sports wrote, “Six goals in five @laliga matches. Lamine Yamal – Laureus World Young Sportsperson of the Year.”
In the comment section his fans manifested that the young footballer will also win the most prestigious and biggest individual award in world soccer.
Lamine Yamal believes he 'deserves' the Ballon d’Or
In recent comments about the Ballon d’Or award and his competitor Kylian Mbappé, Yamal said that after all that he has achieved this year, he deserves the Ballon d’Or.
He also called himself and Real Madrid star “the best player in the world” right now.
Yamal said, “I would give it to the best player in the world. Who are they going to give it to? That's a very long conversation in itself. I honestly believe that there are maybe two of us who are the best in the world.”
“And I think I deserve it this year because of what I've won. For me, Mbappé and I are the best in the world. It is clear to me. Everyone who watches the matches knows it,” he added.
Yamal's latest comments contrast with his remarks last week, when he said in a news conference that he would not "beg" to win the Ballon d'Or.
The Ballon d'Or will be awarded at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26, with Yamal and Mbappé both in the running alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé in an extremely open field.
