Ballon d’Or 2026: ‘He’s a genius’ – Jorge Mendes names player who deserves to win award
Jorge Mendes Touts Lamine Yamal as Leading Candidate for 2026 Ballon d’Or
Jorge Mendes, the former agent of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, has identified Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal as the sole player worthy of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Mendes hailed Yamal as a “genius,” asserting that no other player can be compared to him in the current football landscape. “The Ballon d’Or is for a genius, and Lamine Yamal is the only one who can win it this year,” Mendes stated, according to sports journalist Fabrizio Romano. He further emphasized Yamal’s achievements, citing his contributions to Spain’s FIFA World Cup victory and Barcelona’s recent La Liga title.
“It’s more than fair to consider him the one to win the Ballon d’Or 2026 after winning the World Cup, La Liga, and having a great season with Barcelona once again. He deserves it,” Mendes added.
Yamal, who has made a significant impact in his young career, contributed to Spain’s success in the World Cup and helped lead Barcelona to the La Liga championship last season. He finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, behind Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain.
