“I’m not going to beg for anything,” Lamine Yamal insists over 2026 Ballon d’Or

September 8, 2026

Key Takeaways

Lamine Yamal insists he will not actively lobby voters, stating, “I’m not here to campaign, and I’m not going to beg for anything.”
The winger affirmed that the ultimate decision lies elsewhere, noting that “winning the Ballon d’Or does not depend on me.”
Yamal highlighted team accomplishments, declaring that “the work we’ve done with Barça and the national team has been unbelievable.”

Barcelona winger dismisses personal lobbying for individual prize

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has made it clear that he will not conduct any personal campaign in pursuit of the 2026 Ballon d’Or award. Speaking to reporters ahead of Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League fixture on Wednesday, the teenager insisted that individual accolades are entirely in the hands of the voting panel.

Addressing questions surrounding his candidacy for the prestigious honor, which is scheduled to be decided in October, the forward emphasized that outside opinions are beyond his concern.

“I don’t think I need to campaign for the Ballon D’Or,” Yamal told the media. “Everyone is entitled to think whatever they want.”

Teenager credits club and country teammates

Yamal reiterated that lobbying for votes is not a player’s responsibility and maintained an indifferent stance toward actively chasing personal honors.

“I’m not here to campaign, and I’m not going to beg for anything,” he stated plainly. “That’s your job. It’s not on me.”

The Barcelona attacker was equally clear that the outcome remains outside of his power, stressing, “Winning the Ballon d’Or does not depend on me.”

Instead, Yamal preferred to focus on collective achievements, reflecting warmly on the progress made across recent campaigns for both club and country.

“The work we’ve done with Barça and the national team has been unbelievable,” Yamal said. He added that any future recognition would be shared with his colleagues: “I’ll be grateful to my teammates at Barça and with the national team if I win it, of course.”